Blood is buffered by carbonic acid and the bicarbonate ion.Normal blood plasma is 0.024 M in HCO₃^- and0.0012 M H₂CO₃ (pk_a forH₂CO₃ at body temperature is 6.1).

a) What is the pH of blood plasma?

b) If the volume of blood in a normal adult is 5.0L, what massof HCl could be neutralized by the buffering system in blood beforethe pH falls below 7.0 (which would result in death)?

c) Given the volume from part (b), what mass of NaOH could beneutralized before the pH rises above 7.8?

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