What forms when carbon dioxide dissolves in water in blood cells?

Answer 1

Not: Carbonate ions CO3

Corrected:

Carbon dioxide, when dissolved in blood, is almost exclusively present as hydrogen carbonate ions: HCO3-

1. First the dissolutoion of CO2:

   CO2 + H2O --> H2CO3

   but this reaction is followed by two possible equilibria:

2. The next equilibrium is more on the right side (<-->>) at the pH of blood, pH = 7.3 to 7.4 (more than 95%)

   H2CO3 <-->> HCO3- + H+

3. but the last one is situated far to the left (<<--) (less than 0.1% on the right sight):

   HCO3- <-- CO32- + H+

Only at pH above 10.25 there is a significant amount (50%) of carbonate (CO32-) present, but blood can NEVER reach that high pH value.

Answer 2

When carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves in water in blood cells, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3). Carbonic acid then dissociates into bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) and hydrogen ions (H+). This reaction is part of the bicarbonate buffer system, which helps maintain the pH balance of blood.