Acid base balance or Hydrogen (H+) Homeostasis

The word acid base balance refers to maintenance of stable level of pH of body fluids. During metabolic processes Both acids and bases are formed. Under normal conditions they are neutralized by specific systems involved in maintenance of pH level. Under pathological conditions excessive amounts of acids or bases may accumulate in body fluids and tissues leading to disturbances in acid base balance. In a normal healthy person the blood pH ranges from 7.35-7.45. Throughout ones life this blood pH remains constant. Medical and biological Importance 1. Proper pH is required for the optimal action of enzymes and for the transport of molecules within the body and between cells and its surroundings. 2. Proper pH is required for the maintenance of structure of nucleic acids, proteins, coenzymes and various metabolites. 3. Acidosis and alkalosis are two important disorders of acid base balance. Hydrogen (H+) Homeostasis Three different systems are involved in the maintenance of stable blood pH level. They are : I. Buffer systems of blood plasma, tissue fluids and cells like erythrocytes. II. Lungs. III. Kidneys. By the combined action of these systems constant H+ concentration is maintained in the body. Buffer systems They are responsible for the maintenance of pH of plasma, ICF, ECF and tissues of the body. For the good understanding of role of buffer in the regulation of body pH, some physical chemistry of buffer is required. The pH of a buffer system is related to concentration of its weak acid as well as salt or conjugate base of weak acid and pK of weak acid.

 In logarithmic form the relationship is expressed as Henderson-Hassel balch equation pH = pK + log Salt (conjugate base) Acid (weak) This equation can be used 1. To know pH of a buffer solution if pK of weak acid and ratio of acid and its base are known. 2. To determine the concentration of weak acid and its base if the pH of buffer system and pK of weak acids are known. Further, when the concentrations of weak acid and its conjugate base are equal the above equation becomes pH = pK Thus pK value can be defined as pH at which the concentration of acid and its conjugate base (salt) are equal. In simple words pK is the pH at which acid is half dissociated or neutralized. Based on titration of weak acid against base it was found that each buffer has maximum buffering action at its pK value. The effective buffering range of a given buffer system is about one pH unit on either side of pK value. For example acetate buffer consist of acetic acid as weak acid and sodium acetate as its salt (conjugate base). The pK of acetic acid is 4.75. So acetate buffer has maximum buffering action in pH region of 3.75-5.75. Action of buffer: By taking acetate buffer as example action of a buffer is given below. The two components of acetate buffer are acetic acid (CH3COOH) and sodium acetate (CH3COONa). When acid like HCl is added the base component of buffer reacts as shown below. CH3COONa +HCl NaCl + CH3COOH Since acetic acid is weak acid compared to HCl, the pH change is little on addition of HCl to acetate buffer. When alkali like NaOH is added, acetic acid of buffer reacts and neutralizes change in pH caused by addition of alkali. NaOH+CH3COOHCH3 COONa +H2O Thus buffer resist change in pH when acid or alkali is added.