MOD 1: Water, concentrations, acids and bases

Question 1

What is acidosis (in humans)?

Answer 1

When the body´s pH becomes too acidic - eg. lower than the normal average pH value for body fluids, which is 7.4.
- lower than 6.8 is lethal.

Question 2

List 5 symptoms of acedosis or alkalosis in the central nervous system.

Answer 2

Acetosis:
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Sleepiness
- Loss of consciousness
- Coma

Alkalosis:
- Confusion
- Lightheadedness
- Stupor
- Coma

Question 3

A mole is defined as?

Answer 3

The mole is a quantity used to measure an amount of substance / a unit of concentration

You can also think of a mole as a ratio of two quantities:

N (number of moles) =mass (grams)/molecular weight (Da)

Why do we need to know N? The measure of concentration is simply a ratio - the solute is the minor component and the solvent the major component
* It is therefore important to be able to understand the amounts of substances present in solution

Question 4

What fluctuations in the overall body fluids´ pH value will make you ill?

Answer 4

Avg normal pH is 7,4, only a small fluctuation will make you sick: Lower than 6.8 or higher than 8.0 is deadly

Question 5

How does the body protect itself from acedosis or alkalosis?

Answer 5

By producing buffering chemicals in the kidneys to add to the blood and maintain pH.

Buffers absorb (accept) and release (donate) protons. This regulates the hydronium ion concentration in systems and reduces the overall changes in the molarity of hydronium ions in a system

Question 6

What is the pH of gastric acid in human stomach?

Answer 6

1.5 - 3.5

Question 7

What is the major buffer system in body fluid (the chemical)?

Answer 7

The major buffer system in body fluid is carbonic acid H2CO3 / HCO3

Question 8

An acid - is it a proton donor or a proton acceptor? (in the human body fluids major buffer system)

Answer 8

An acid is a proton donor, while a base is a proton acceptor