The pH of blood is 7.35. It is maintained in part by the buffer system composed of carbonic acid (H2CO3) and the bicarbonate (hydrogen carbonate, HCO3-) ion. What is the ratio of [bicarbonate]/[carbonic acid] at this pH? For carbonic acid, Ka1 = 4.2 x 10-7.
A) [bicarbonate]/[carbonic acid] = 0.11
D) [bicarbonate]/[carbonic acid] = 9.4
B) [bicarbonate]/[carbonic acid] = 0.38
E) None of the above ratios is correct.
C) [bicarbonate]/[carbonic acid] = 2.65