Carbonic Acid (H2CO3) Serves as a Buffer in Human Blood

Multiple Choice

Carbonic acid (H2CO3) serves as a buffer in human blood. Carbonic acid is a weak acid that dissociates into a bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) and a hydrogen ion (H+) . Thus,
H2CO3 ↔ HCO3- + H+
A decrease in blood pH would result in

A) a decrease in the concentration of H2CO3 and an increase in the concentration of HCO3-.
B) a decrease in the concentrations of H2CO3 and HCO3-.
C) an increase in the concentration of H2CO3 and a decrease in the concentration of HCO3-.
D) an increase in the concentrations of H2CO3 and HCO3-.
E) an increase in the concentrations of H2CO3, HCO3-, and OH-.