Past Paper Question NEED HELP (1 Viewer)

[golgo13]

Hi guys,
I was doing a past paper question and i came across this question
"A long term heavy smoker has a decreased lung capacity. If her lungs cannot exhale CO2 effectively, explain what effect would this have on her blood pH?"
This should be part of buffer solutions and it was in my schools last years chem past paper.
Thanks

 

[ohexploitable]

Le Chatelier's principle

Can't exhale CO₂ --> CO₂ stays in lungs --> increase in CO₂ concentration --> more CO₂ dissolves in blood --> more carbonic acid --> increased acidity --> lower pH

 

[hscishard]

blood is made up of mostly water. It will turn slightly acidic

 

[hscishard]

Le Chatelier's principle

Can't exhale CO₂ --> CO₂ stays in lungs --> increase in CO₂ concentration --> more CO₂ dissolves in blood --> more carbonic acid --> increased acidity --> lower pH

+ 1

 

[golgo13]

Thanks for the fast reply guys, just needed a reference point cause school doesn't give solutions so i didn't know if my reasoning was right