Chemical Reactions and Acid-Base Balance

These flashcards cover key vocabulary regarding chemistry fundamentals, pH measurement, acid-base physiology involving the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, and chemical reaction principles such as cellular respiration.

HCO3-

The most important body fluid anion and the primary means for transporting $CO_2$ from the tissues to the lungs.

Hydrogen ion ($H^+$)

A proton formed when an acid breaks into another compound in water.

Acid

A substance that breaks into hydrogen ($H^+$) ions in water, increases the $[H^+]$ of a solution, and has a pH below $7$.

Base

A substance that breaks into hydroxide ($OH^-$) ions in water, decreases the $[H^+]$ of a solution, and has a pH above $7$.

pH

A measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions ($[H^+]$) in a solution, defined by the equation $pH = -\text{log} [H^+]$.

Inverse relationship of pH and H+

As $H^+$ concentration increases, $pH$ decreases; as $H^+$ concentration decreases, $pH$ increases.

pH Scale Step Change

Each unit on the $0-14$ logarithmic scale represents a $10$-fold change in $H^+$ ions.

Strong Base

A base, such as $NaOH$, in which all the molecules break apart when placed in water.

Weak Base

A base, such as $NH_3$, in which only a few molecules break apart when placed in water.

Normal Blood pH

The narrow limits of $7.35-7.45$ required for normal cell metabolism.

Henderson-Hasselbalch (H-H) Equation

An equation showing that $pH$ is influenced by the base to acid ratio.

Normal Arterial Blood HH Ratio

A ratio of $[HCO_3^-] : PaCO_2$ equal to $20:1$, where $HCO_3^-$ is $24\text{\thinspace mEq/L}$ and $PaCO_2$ is $40\text{\thinspace torr}$.

Alkalosis

A condition where $pH$ increases because either $[HCO_3^-]$ increases or $PaCO_2$ decreases.

Acidosis

A condition where $pH$ decreases because either $[HCO_3^-]$ decreases or $PaCO_2$ increases.

Chemical Reaction

The process by which atoms or groups of atoms in a substance are reorganized into different substances by breaking and re-arranging bonds.

Law of conservation of mass

The principle that atoms are neither created nor destroyed during a chemical reaction, meaning the number of atoms in the reactants equals the number in the products.

Reactants

Starting substances that are consumed by a chemical reaction.

Products

Substances produced by a chemical reaction.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Reaction

$NaHCO_3 + HC_2H_3O_2 \rightarrow NaC_2H_3O_2 + H_2O + CO_2$.

Cellular respiration equation

$C_6H_{12}O_6 \text{ (glucose)} + 6 O_2 \rightarrow 6 CO_2 + 6 H_2O + 36 \text{ ATP (ENERGY)}$.