If respiratory rate increases, what happens to pH?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $24.99Unlock all

Prepare for the Care Flight Entrance Exam with our comprehensive study materials. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, complete with hints and explanations, to enhance your readiness. Get ready to soar in your exam!

Multiple Choice

If respiratory rate increases, what happens to pH?

Explanation:
When you breathe faster, you blow off more CO2. CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which releases hydrogen ions and lowers pH. Reducing CO2 shifts that balance, decreasing hydrogen ions and raising pH. So the immediate effect of increased respiratory rate is an increase in pH (respiratory alkalosis). The other options don’t fit because faster breathing does not raise acidity, produce no change, or vary unpredictably in the short term—the key is that CO2 loss drives pH up. (Longer-term metabolic compensation can occur, but the direct response is pH increase.)

When you breathe faster, you blow off more CO2. CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which releases hydrogen ions and lowers pH. Reducing CO2 shifts that balance, decreasing hydrogen ions and raising pH. So the immediate effect of increased respiratory rate is an increase in pH (respiratory alkalosis). The other options don’t fit because faster breathing does not raise acidity, produce no change, or vary unpredictably in the short term—the key is that CO2 loss drives pH up. (Longer-term metabolic compensation can occur, but the direct response is pH increase.)

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy