What happens when there is too little HCO3 in the blood?

What happens when there is too little HCO3 in the blood?

• A. It also leads to acidosis.
• B. It leads to alkalosis.
• C. It raises bicarbonate production.
• D. It neutralizes pH.

Answer: (A)

Bicarbonate serves as the blood’s main base in the buffering system that keeps pH from swinging too far with metabolism. When HCO3- is too low, there isn’t enough base to neutralize hydrogen ions, so the hydrogen ions accumulate and the pH drops. That drop is metabolic acidosis. Why the other ideas don’t fit: alkalosis would require excess base or loss of acids, not a shortage of bicarbonate; bicarbonate production isn’t an automatic immediate consequence of low levels and isn’t the direct reason for the pH change; and low bicarbonate does not neutralize pH—it allows pH to fall.

Bicarbonate serves as the blood’s main base in the buffering system that keeps pH from swinging too far with metabolism. When HCO3- is too low, there isn’t enough base to neutralize hydrogen ions, so the hydrogen ions accumulate and the pH drops. That drop is metabolic acidosis.

Why the other ideas don’t fit: alkalosis would require excess base or loss of acids, not a shortage of bicarbonate; bicarbonate production isn’t an automatic immediate consequence of low levels and isn’t the direct reason for the pH change; and low bicarbonate does not neutralize pH—it allows pH to fall.