Air exposure of a specimen tends to cause which combined change?

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Multiple Choice

Air exposure of a specimen tends to cause which combined change?

Explanation:
Gas exchange with air drives the change. When a specimen is exposed to air, oxygen diffuses into it while carbon dioxide diffuses out. The air has more O2 and less CO2 compared with many samples, so pO2 rises and pCO2 falls. Losing CO2 shifts the carbonic acid–bicarbonate buffering toward fewer hydrogen ions, so the pH increases. Therefore the combined effect is increased pO2, decreased pCO2, and increased pH.

Gas exchange with air drives the change. When a specimen is exposed to air, oxygen diffuses into it while carbon dioxide diffuses out. The air has more O2 and less CO2 compared with many samples, so pO2 rises and pCO2 falls. Losing CO2 shifts the carbonic acid–bicarbonate buffering toward fewer hydrogen ions, so the pH increases. Therefore the combined effect is increased pO2, decreased pCO2, and increased pH.

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