Q. Blood carries CO2 mainly in which form ?

 2616  176 Punjab PMETPunjab PMET 2007Breathing and Exchange of Gases Report Error

Solution:

About 7% of carbon dioxide transported is dissolved in plasma. About 23% loosely binds with haemoglobin as carbaminohaemoglobin in the form of bicarbonates and about 70% reacts with water forming carbonic acid in erythrocytes in the presence of enzyme carbonic anhydrase. Carbonic acid is soon converted into H+ and HCO3- (bicarbonate) ions. This HCO3- ion comes out of RBCs and combines with Na+ and K+ to form bicarbonates of these ions. Sodium and potassium bicarbonates account for 70% of total CO2transport of the body.