Excess protons in the blood decrease the amount of hco − 3 and thus reduce the buffering capacity of blood. a rapid drop in ph could lead to death. normal values for blood are ph = 7.4 , [ hco − 3 ] = 24.0 mm , [ co 2 ] = 1.2 mm . (a) if a patient has a blood ph = 7.03 and [co2] = 1.2 mm, what is the [hco3−] in the patient’s blood? the pka of hco3−= 6.1.
(b) suggest a possible treatment for metabolic acidosis.
(c) why might the suggestion for part (b) be of benefit to middle-distance runners?