Blood Acidity

[MedPR]

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Why is venous blood more acidic than arterial blood?

Is it only attributed to the formation of bicarbonate and H+ from CO2 and water?

 

[Pisiform]

because CO2 combines with water to form carbonic acid and then carbonic acid combines with Hemoglobin to form Hemoglobinic Acid (HHb).

 

[SaintJude]

When carbon dioxide enters the blood stream, it forms carbonic acids via CO2 + H2O → H2CO3. This carbon dioxide is produced in the tissues, so its the venous blood that pick up this extra carbon dioxide. This results in the (slightly) lower pH.

 

[MedPR]

Ok thanks. I wasn't sure if there was something about CO2 itself that made it more acidic than O2.