Acid-Base

Balance
 Acid-Base Balance
• The normal pH range of blood
is 7.35 to 7.45
• The ph of tissue fluid is similar
but can vary slightly above or
below this range.
• The intracellular fluid has a pH
range of 6.8 to 7.0
 Acid-Base Balance

• The ranges of pH are

quite narrow; they must
be maintained in order
for enzymatic reactions
and other processes to
proceed normally.
 Acid-Base Balance
• Maintenance of acid-base
homeostasis is
accompanied by the buffer
systems in body fluids, the
rate and depth of
respiration, and the kidneys.
 Buffer
Systems
 Buffer Systems
• Its purpose is to prevent
drastic changes in the pH of
the body fluids by chemically
reacting with strong acids or
bases that would otherwise
greatly change the pH.
 Buffer Systems
• A buffer system consists of a
weak acid and a weak base.
These molecules react with
strong acids or bases that
may be produced and change
them to substances that do
not have a great effect on pH.
 Bicarbonate
Buffer System
 Bicarbonate Buffer System

• The two components of

this buffer system are
carbonic acid (H2CO3), a
weak acid and sodium
bicarbonate (NaHCO3), a
weak base.
 Bicarbonate Buffer System
• If a potential pH change is created by
a strong acid, the following reaction
takes place:

HCl + NaHCO3 → NaCl + H2CO3

 Bicarbonate Buffer System
• If a potential pH change is created by
a strong base, the following reaction
takes place:

NaOH + H2CO3 → H2O + NaHCO3

 Bicarbonate Buffer System
• The bicarbonate buffer system is
important in both the blood and
tissue fluid. During normal
metabolism, these fluids tend to
become more acidic, so more
sodium bicarbonate than carbonic
acid is needed. The usual ratio to
these molecules to each other is
about 20 to 1 (NaHCO3 to H2CO3)