medium · MCAT chem-phys
A patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus develops a fruity odor on their breath and begins breathing very rapidly and deeply.
According to the bicarbonate buffer system (CO_2 + H_2O rightleftharpoons H_2CO_3 rightleftharpoons H^+ + HCO_3^-), how does this respiratory change help compensate for their condition?
- Rapid breathing increases O_2 levels, which directly neutralizes the ketone bodies in the blood.
- Rapid breathing increases CO_2 retention, providing more carbonic acid to buffer the basic ketones.
- Rapid breathing expels CO_2, shifting the equilibrium to the left and consuming excess H^+.
- Rapid breathing shifts the equilibrium to the right, increasing the production of bicarbonate ions.
Sign up free to see the explanation and track your rank →
More MCAT chem-phys practice
- Which term describes the final state where no net heat flow occurs?
- What term describes the molecule with internal symmetry despite having chiral centers?
- An infrared (IR) spectrum of an unknown organic compound sho… — Which functional group is
- What is the molecular mechanism by which the catalyst achieves this increase?
- Which mechanism is occurring?
- A researcher discovers that a population of bacteria survives exposure to an antibiotic be
- According to the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) methodology, which test sho
- Which reactant is the limiting reagent?