1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Biology
  4. During CO2 transport, HCO-3 diffuses from erythrocytes to plasma and in turn upsets the ionic balance momentarily. In order to keep the ionic balance, an equal number of Cl- pass into the erythrocytes from plasma. The process is known as

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. During $CO_2$ transport, $HCO^-_3$ diffuses from erythrocytes to plasma and in turn upsets the ionic balance momentarily. In order to keep the ionic balance, an equal number of $Cl^-$ pass into the erythrocytes from plasma. The process is known as

Breathing and Exchange of Gases

Solution:

About $70\%$ of $CO_2$ is converted to bicarbonate ions $(HCO_3^-)$ and transported in plasma. $CO_2$ diffuses into $RBCs$, combines with water and forms carbonic acid $(H_2CO_3)$. $H_2CO_3$ being unstable quickly dissociates into $H^+$ and $HCO_3$. $HCO_3$ ions are quite diffusible. Therefore, $HCO_3^-$ diffuses from $RBCs$ into the plasma. To maintain the ionic balance $Cl^-$ ions move from the plasma into the $RBCs$. This exchange is called chloride shift or Hamburger's phenomenon.