In acute respiratory acidosis, pH falls by _____ for every increase of 10 mmHg in PCO2.

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Multiple Choice

In acute respiratory acidosis, pH falls by _____ for every increase of 10 mmHg in PCO2.

Explanation:
When CO2 increases, it combines with water to form carbonic acid, which dissociates to release hydrogen ions and bicarbonate, lowering pH. In acute respiratory acidosis, the body hasn’t had time to compensate metabolically, so the pH falls more steeply with each rise in PCO2—about 0.08 pH units for every 10 mmHg increase in PCO2. This rapid drop reflects limited buffering by the kidneys early on. If compensation had time (chronic), the kidneys would raise bicarbonate and blunt the pH decline to around 0.03 per 10 mmHg CO2 rise. So the correct amount is 0.08.

When CO2 increases, it combines with water to form carbonic acid, which dissociates to release hydrogen ions and bicarbonate, lowering pH. In acute respiratory acidosis, the body hasn’t had time to compensate metabolically, so the pH falls more steeply with each rise in PCO2—about 0.08 pH units for every 10 mmHg increase in PCO2. This rapid drop reflects limited buffering by the kidneys early on. If compensation had time (chronic), the kidneys would raise bicarbonate and blunt the pH decline to around 0.03 per 10 mmHg CO2 rise. So the correct amount is 0.08.

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