Question

Explain the most important buffer in blood plasma.

Answer 1

Hint: Blood is very essential to life as it is a fluid which circulates through our body and delivers essential substances like nutrients and oxygen to different parts, organs and cells of the body. Blood is a fluid, connective tissue. Buffers help to keep the pH value of blood in order.

Complete Step by step solution
Blood is formed of four basic components which are as follows,
Red blood cells: Red blood cells are also known as erythrocytes. They comprise about 40 to 45 percent of blood. Red blood cells have a lifespan of about one hundred and twenty days. Red blood cells consist of haemoglobin. Red blood cells are concave in shape and they are the cells that do not possess nucleus and hence they cannot divide and do not form new cells.
White blood cells: White blood cells are also known as leukocytes. They form the immune system of the human body and they protect the human body from infectious diseases, bacteria, virus or any other foreign bodies. There are many different types of white blood cells.
Platelets: Platelets are also named as thrombocytes. They help in coagulation or clotting of the blood. These cells also do not possess nuclei in them.
Blood plasma: Blood plasma is a clear, yellow colour liquid part of blood. When red blood cells, white blood cells, blood platelets and other cellular components of blood are removed we get plasma.
Buffer is a solution that can resist a change in pH value when an acidic or basic substance or a compound is added. It is able to neutralize the small amount of acid or base, thereby maintaining the pH value of the solution.
In blood, carbonic acid is present which acts as a weak acid and also bicarbonates are present which leads to equilibrium in pH value. Therefore, carbonic acid and bicarbonate ions form a buffer solution keeping the blood pH constant. Hence forming an important buffer solution in blood.

Note
Under normal conditions, there are much more bicarbonate ions present than carbonic acid in blood. High temperature favours formation of carboxyhemoglobin and low temperature that is under normal temperature formation of oxyhaemoglobin is favoured.