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Question

Which of the following statements are true/ false?

A. The blood transports CO2 comparatively easily because of its higher solubility.

B. Approximately 10% of CO2 is transported being dissolved in the plasma of blood.

C. The carbon dioxide produced by the tissues diffuses passively into the bloodstream and passes into red blood corpuscles and reacts with water to form H2CO3.

D. The sodium ions diffuse from plasma into the erythrocytes to maintain ionic balance.

E. The chloride ions diffuse from plasma into the erythrocytes to maintain ionic balance.

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Solution

Correct statements

Statement A:
The blood transports CO2 comparatively easily because of its higher solubility.

Elaboration: Plasma is the fluid matrix of the blood. In plasma the O2 and CO2 is found in their dissolved form. The concentration of CO2 in the plasma is about 7% whereas the concentration of O2 is 3% and thus the blood transports CO2 more easily than O2 because of its higher solubility. Hence, the given statement A is true.

Statement C: The carbon dioxide produced by the tissues, diffuses passively into the bloodstream and passes into red blood corpuscles and reacts with water to form H2CO3.

Elaboration: The CO2 that is produced by the tissues, enters the RBCs (red blood cells) by passive diffusion. Within the RBCs the CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). Carbonic acid then dissociates into HCO3 (bicarbonate) and H+ ions. Hence, the given statement C is true.

Statement E: The chloride ions diffuse from plasma into the erythrocytes to maintain ionic balance.

Elaboration: Once the bicarbonate ions are formed in the RBCs, they enter into plasma. This exit of bicarbonate ions changes the ionic balance between the plasma and the erythrocytes. Now chloride ions (Cl) diffuse from plasma into the erythrocytes to maintain the ionic balance. This movement of chloride ions or influx of Cl ions into RBC is called chloride shift or Hamburger’s phenomenon.
Hence, the given statement E is true.

Incorrect statements

Statement B: Approximately 10% of CO2 is transported being dissolved in the plasma of blood.

Elaboration: About 7% of CO2 is transported in the dissolved form in the plasma of blood. Hence, the given statement B is false.

Statement D: The sodium ions diffuse from plasma into the erythrocytes to maintain ionic balance.

Elaboration: Once the bicarbonate ions are formed in the RBCs, they enter into plasma. This exit of bicarbonate ions changes the ionic balance between the plasma and the erythrocytes. Now chloride ions (Cl) diffuse from plasma into the erythrocytes to maintain the ionic balance. This movement of chloride ions or influx of Cl ions into RBC is called chloride shift or Hamburger’s phenomenon.
Hence, the given statement D is false.

Final answer: (1) A, C and E are true, B and D are false

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