Transporting carbon dioxide

Question 1

3 ways CO2 is transported

Answer 1

> 5% dissolved directly in the plasma
10% is combined directly with haemoglobin to form carbaminohaemoglobin
85% transported in form of hydrogencarbonate ions

Question 2

Formation of hyrogencarbonate ions

Answer 2

> CO2 diffuses into the red blood cell and combines with water to form carbonic acid
catalysed by carbonic anhydrase
carbonic acid dissociates to release H+ ions and HCO ions
ions diffuse out if the red blood cells
charge in the RBC is maintained through chloride shift
H+ ions are removed to prevent acidity

Question 3

Bohr effect

Answer 3

> CO2 enters the RBC to form carbonic acid which releases hydrogen ions
Make cytoplasm more acidic
alters the tertiary structure of haemoglobin and reduces its affinity for oxygen
cant hold as much oxygen so it is released into the tissues
causes curve to shift to the right as more oxygen is released