Acids and Bases

pH= measure H+ concentra on

Why is it important to maintain stable physiological pH

1. pH will a ect all protein func ons and biochemical func ons

Normal pH of arterial blood: 7.35-7.45 <- maintained by both respiratory and

renal system

Complica ons with acid-base disturbance:

1. Conforma onal change with protein structure
2. Change K balance
3. Vasodila on (smooth muscle cells very sensi ve to acidity-> will relax)
4. Change in excitability of neurons
5. Cardiac arrhythmias

Kidneys remove H+ ions from body

Sources of acids in body

1. Breakdown of sulphur-containing proteins to release sulphuric acid to ECF
2. Anaerobic respira on produce lac c acid
3. Fat metabolism produces fa y acids and ketone bodies
4. CO2 reacts with H2O to form carbonic acid, which dissociates to form H
ions in blood

Concentra on of H ions regulated sequen ally by

1. Chemical bu er system (cellular proteins, phosphate ions, haemoglobin
combines/release H ions)
2. Respiratory system (monitor through CO2)
3. Renal system (directly excrete/reabsorb H+ ions through changing the rate
of reabsorpion and excre on of HCO3- bu er)

Examples of chemical bu er systems (only resists to changes when strong acid/

base is added)
1. Bicarbonate bu er system (ECF bu er)
2. Protein bu er system
3. Phosphate bu er system (ICF bu er)

Bicarbonate bu er system
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 When H+ is added to blood,

When OH- ions is added to blood,

** to prevent signi cant changes in blood pH**

Law of mass ac on
• Ra o between conc of reactants and conc of products is constant
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pKa =/= pH

pKa = -logKa
• Measures the strength of an acid
Low pKa= strong acid
High pKa= weak acid

pH
• Measures acidity/alkalinity of solu on

Henderson- Hasselbalch equa on (HH equa on)

** if pH = pKa , **
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 Bicarbonate bu er system

pKa= 6.1

If strong acid is added

1. The HCO3- ions will e up with H+ to form carbonic acid, pH decreases
slightly (unless all available HCO3- ions are used up)
** conc of HCO3- ions are regulated by kidneys**

If strong base is added

1. The carbonic acid will dissociate to donate H+ ions
2. H+ e up with OH- ions
3. pH rises slightly
** H2CO3 supply is limitless (due to CO2 formed from respira on) and depends
on respiratory controls**

Ra o of HCO3- to H2CO3 in body= 20:1

Requirements for a good chemical bu er
1. Minimise change in pH
2. Acid loading = accept the proton
3. Acid removal = donate the proton
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 How to choose a bu er
• Choose a compound whose pKa is close to the pH you want to maintain

Chemical bu er- protein bu er

Proteins are made of amino acids (amino acids have side chains made of either
weak acid group COOH or weak base group NH2)

Proteins are dipolar ions that bear two types of charged groups, also amphoteric
as they can func on as weak acid or base

pI (isoelectric point)= summa on of pKa of all acidic and base chains -> a ects
the bu ering capacity of proteins

Most plen ful and powerful proteins= intracellular proteins

Chemical bu er- phosphate bu er

pKa= 6.8
Components:
Sodium salts of H2PO4 and HPO42-
Unimportant in bu ering plasma
• Concentra on is not high

E ec ve bu er in urine and ICF

• Phosphate concentra on is high

Body bu er can only temporarily remove acid load, but ul mately done by
kidneys

Increase in H+ conc/ decrease in pH= acidemia

Decrease in H+ conc/ increase in pH = alkalemia

Process to increase Conc of H+: acidosis (occurs when blood pH<7.35)

Process to decrease conc of H+: alkalosis (occurs with blood pH>7.45)
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