Question 6.19

[Parker Smith]

In this problem, part a asks if lactic acid were to increase, what would happen to HbO2 in the reaction H3O+HbO2->HHb+H2O+O2

I said that HbO2 would decrease since more H3O would be produced when lactic acid dissociates. However, is my statement accurate since we don't know the Ka of lactic acid and whether it'll dissociate enough to change the relative concentration of HbO2?

[Esha Chawla 2E]

In this problem, part a asks if lactic acid were to increase, what would happen to HbO2 in the reaction H3O+HbO2->HHb+H2O+O2

I said that HbO2 would decrease since more H3O would be produced when lactic acid dissociates. However, is my statement accurate since we don't know the Ka of lactic acid and whether it'll dissociate enough to change the relative concentration of HbO2?

If there is an increase in lactic acid production, there will be a higher concentration of H30+ because it is an acid. Thus, with an increase in the concentration of H3O+, there would be a decrease in the concentration of HbO2.