Carbon dioxide, a by-product of cellular respiration, is dissolved in the blood, where it is taken up by red blood cells and converted to carbonic acid by carbonic anhydrase. Most of the carbonic acid then dissociates to<unk>  and hydrogen ions. The<unk>  is an acid-base homeostatic mechanism involving the balance of carbonic acid (H2CO3),<unk>  ion (HCO), and carbon dioxide (CO2) in order to maintain pH in the blood and duodenum, among other tissues, to support proper metabolic function. Catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase, carbon dioxide (CO2) reacts with water (H2O) to form carbonic acid (H2CO3), which in turn rapidly dissociates to form a<unk>  ion (HCO ) and a hydrogen ion (H+) as shown in the following reaction: As with any<unk><unk> , the pH is balanced by the presence of both a weak acid (for example, H2CO3) and its conjugate base (for example, HCO) so that any excess acid or base introduced to the<unk>  is neutralized. Failure of this<unk>  to function properly results in acid-base imbalance, such as acidemia (pH 7.45) in the blood.
Bicarbonate buffer system
Hemodialysis product
Plasma-lyte
New methylene blue
Super-oxidized solution
Thickened fluids
Azo dye
Syringe filter