Acid/Base Balance Worksheet
Exercise 10: Acid/Base Balance Worksheet
Respiratory Acidosis and Alkalosis
Activity 1: Normal Breathing
1. At 20 seconds, pH = 7.4
2. At 40 seconds, pH = 7.4
3. At 60 seconds, pH = 7.4
4. Did the pH level of the blood change at all during normal breathing? If so, how? No
5. Was the pH level always within the “normal” range for the human body? Yes
6. Did the PCO2 level change during the course of normal breathing? If so, how? No
Activity 2a: Hyperventilation – Run 1
1. At 20 seconds, pH = 7.47
2. At 40 seconds, pH = 7.52
3. At 60 seconds, pH = 7.67
4. Maximum pH = 7.68
5. Did the pH level of the blood change at all during this run? If so, how? Yes, it increased and it did not remain completely steady.
6. Was the pH level always within the “normal” range for the human body? If not, when was the pH value outside of the normal range, and what acid/base imbalance did this pH value indicate? No, it increased to 7.68 which showed respiratory alkalosis.
7. Did the PCO2 level change during the curse of this run? If so, how? Yes, the minimum PCO2 decreased but the maximum stayed the same as the normal breathing exercise.
8. If you observed an acid/base imbalance during this run, how would you expect to renal system to compensate for this condition? There would be an excretion of HCO-3 in the urine and causes an increase plasma pH.
9. How did the hyperventilation trace differ from the trace for the normal breathing? Did the tidal volumes change? Yes, they were not as steady and the lines went higher and lower than the normal breathing exercise.
10. What might cause a person to hyperventilate? Stress or Anxiety.
Activity 2b: Hyperventilation – Run 2
1. What happened to the trace after the 20-second mark when you stopped the hyperventilation? Did the breathing return to normal immediately? Explain your observation. No, it was almost as if the breathing completely stopped before becoming normal again.
Activity 3: Rebreathing
Respiratory Acidosis and Alkalosis
Activity 1: Normal Breathing
1. At 20 seconds, pH = 7.4
2. At 40 seconds, pH = 7.4
3. At 60 seconds, pH = 7.4
4. Did the pH level of the blood change at all during normal breathing? If so, how? No
5. Was the pH level always within the “normal” range for the human body? Yes
6. Did the PCO2 level change during the course of normal breathing? If so, how? No
Activity 2a: Hyperventilation – Run 1
1. At 20 seconds, pH = 7.47
2. At 40 seconds, pH = 7.52
3. At 60 seconds, pH = 7.67
4. Maximum pH = 7.68
5. Did the pH level of the blood change at all during this run? If so, how? Yes, it increased and it did not remain completely steady.
6. Was the pH level always within the “normal” range for the human body? If not, when was the pH value outside of the normal range, and what acid/base imbalance did this pH value indicate? No, it increased to 7.68 which showed respiratory alkalosis.
7. Did the PCO2 level change during the curse of this run? If so, how? Yes, the minimum PCO2 decreased but the maximum stayed the same as the normal breathing exercise.
8. If you observed an acid/base imbalance during this run, how would you expect to renal system to compensate for this condition? There would be an excretion of HCO-3 in the urine and causes an increase plasma pH.
9. How did the hyperventilation trace differ from the trace for the normal breathing? Did the tidal volumes change? Yes, they were not as steady and the lines went higher and lower than the normal breathing exercise.
10. What might cause a person to hyperventilate? Stress or Anxiety.
Activity 2b: Hyperventilation – Run 2
1. What happened to the trace after the 20-second mark when you stopped the hyperventilation? Did the breathing return to normal immediately? Explain your observation. No, it was almost as if the breathing completely stopped before becoming normal again.
Activity 3: Rebreathing