Most of the Carbon Dioxide in the Blood is Transported

Question

Most of the carbon dioxide in the blood is transported as
A) solute dissolved in the plasma.
B) carbaminohemoglobin.
C) bicarbonate ions.
D) solute dissolved in the cytoplasm of red blood cells.
E) carbonic acid.

Accepted Answer

Most of the carbon dioxide in the blood is transported as bicarbonate ions. Carbon dioxide reacts with water in the cytoplasm of red blood cells to form carbonic acid, which dissociates into bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions. The bicarbonate ions are then transported out of the red blood cells and into the plasma, where they are carried to the lungs to be released.