Chloride Shift and Hydrogen Carbonate Formation in Red Blood Cells

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To prevent the cytoplasm from becoming positively charged

carbonic acid dissociating in water to form hydrogen ions and hydrogen carbonate ions

It produces hydrogen ions (H+) and hydrogen carbonate ions (HCO3-).

Haemoglobin has a high affinity for binding with hydrogen ions to prevent acidic conditions. Signup and view all the answers

Haemoglobin turns into haemoglobinic acid. Signup and view all the answers

Ion exchange proteins help maintain the balance of chloride and hydrogen carbonate ions. Signup and view all the answers

It plays a crucial role in preventing the cytoplasm from becoming too positively charged. Signup and view all the answers

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Chloride ions enter the red blood cell cytoplasm through an ion exchange protein, replacing hydrogen carbonate ions that leave the cytoplasm.
Hydrogen carbonate ions are formed when carbon dioxide from tissue cells dissolves in water and reacts with carbonic anhydrase, a catalyst, to produce carbonic acid.
Carbonic acid dissociates in water, producing hydrogen ions (H+) and hydrogen carbonate ions (HCO3-).
Hydrogen ions in the cytoplasm can cause acidic conditions, which are harmful.
Haemoglobin has a high affinity for binding with hydrogen ions, and when it binds, it turns into haemoglobinic acid.
Hydrogen carbonate ions leave the cytoplasm through an ion exchange protein, and chloride ions enter the cytoplasm to maintain electrical neutrality and prevent positive charging.
This process is called the chloride shift, which helps to regulate the acidity of the red blood cell cytoplasm.