Ch.10 Acids and Bases and Equilibrium

Timberlake - Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 13th Edition

Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353Not the one you use?Change textbook

Timberlake 13th Edition

Ch.10 Acids and Bases and Equilibrium

Problem 62

Chapter 10, Problem 62

Someone with severe diabetes obtains energy by the breakdown of fats, which produce large amounts of acidic substances. How would this affect the pH of the blood plasma?

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution, with lower pH values indicating higher acidity.

Recognize that the breakdown of fats in the body produces acidic substances, such as ketone bodies (e.g., acetoacetic acid and beta-hydroxybutyric acid), which can increase the concentration of hydrogen ions in the blood.

Recall that an increase in hydrogen ion concentration will lower the pH of the blood plasma, making it more acidic. This condition is known as acidosis.

Consider the body's natural buffering systems, such as the bicarbonate buffer system, which works to maintain blood pH within a narrow range (approximately 7.35–7.45). However, excessive production of acidic substances can overwhelm this system.

Conclude that the production of large amounts of acidic substances due to fat breakdown in severe diabetes would likely decrease the pH of the blood plasma, potentially leading to a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Diabetes and Metabolism

Diabetes, particularly type 1, can lead to a state called ketoacidosis, where the body breaks down fats for energy due to insufficient insulin. This process produces ketone bodies, which are acidic, and can significantly impact the body's metabolic state.

pH and Blood Plasma

The pH of blood plasma is tightly regulated, typically around 7.35 to 7.45. A decrease in pH (acidosis) can occur when excess acidic substances, like ketones from fat metabolism, accumulate in the bloodstream, leading to potential health complications.

Acidosis

Acidosis refers to a condition where the body fluids contain too much acid, resulting in a lower pH. In the context of diabetes, the accumulation of ketone bodies can lead to metabolic acidosis, which can cause symptoms such as fatigue, confusion, and in severe cases, can be life-threatening.

Related Practice

Textbook Question

Which of the following represents a buffer system? Explain.

a. H₃PO₃

b. NaNO₃

c. HC₂H₃O₂ and NaC₂H₃O₂

d. HCl and NaOH

Textbook Question

When food enters the stomach, HCl is released and the [H₃O⁺] of the stomach fluid rises to 4 × 10^–2 M. What is the pH of the stomach fluid?

Textbook Question

Write the balanced chemical equation for the neutralization reaction of stomach acid HCl with Al(OH)₃, an ingredient in some antacids.

Textbook Question

If 32.8 mL of a 0.162 M NaOH solution is required to titrate 25.0 mL of a solution of H₂SO₄, what is the molarity of the H₂SO₄ solution?

H₂SO₄(aq) + 2 KOH(aq) → 2 H₂O(l) + K₂SO₄(aq)

Textbook Question

Write a balanced equation for the neutralization of each of the following:

c. HNO₃(aq) and Mg(OH)₂(s)

Textbook Question

How many grams of Al(OH)₃ are required to neutralize 150. mL of stomach acid with a pH of 1.5?