Gas Transport - Carbon Dioxide

What form is carbon dioxide transported in

Combines with water to form carbonic acid, then dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions

CO₂ + H₂O <-> H₂CO₃ <-> H⁺ + HCO₃^-

Catalysed by carbonic anhydrase enzyme, reaction favours forward in tissues and favours reverse in lungs

Carbon dioxide transport

70 percent carried as bicarbonate ion in plasma, 23 percent bound to haemoglobin to form carbaminohaemoglobin HbCO2, 7 percent dissolved in plasma - more than oxygen due to solubility

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Carbon dioxide diffusion in cells/tissues vs in lungs (flow diagrams)