Dissolved CO2 in blood (H2CO3) is calculated as:

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Multiple Choice

Dissolved CO2 in blood (H2CO3) is calculated as:

Explanation:
Dissolved CO2 in blood follows Henry’s law: the amount dissolved is proportional to the partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2). In practice, the solubility coefficient for CO2 in blood at body temperature is about 0.037 mL CO2 per 100 mL of blood per mmHg of PCO2. So the dissolved CO2 content is obtained by multiplying PCO2 by 0.037. For example, with a PCO2 of 40 mmHg, dissolved CO2 is about 40 × 0.037 ≈ 1.48 mL per deciliter, which fits the typical dissolved CO2 portion in blood. The rest of CO2 is carried mainly as bicarbonate and carbamino compounds, but the dissolved portion depends only on PCO2 and this solubility coefficient. The other forms of combining values don’t reflect this direct proportionality, which is why they aren’t correct.

Dissolved CO2 in blood follows Henry’s law: the amount dissolved is proportional to the partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2). In practice, the solubility coefficient for CO2 in blood at body temperature is about 0.037 mL CO2 per 100 mL of blood per mmHg of PCO2. So the dissolved CO2 content is obtained by multiplying PCO2 by 0.037. For example, with a PCO2 of 40 mmHg, dissolved CO2 is about 40 × 0.037 ≈ 1.48 mL per deciliter, which fits the typical dissolved CO2 portion in blood. The rest of CO2 is carried mainly as bicarbonate and carbamino compounds, but the dissolved portion depends only on PCO2 and this solubility coefficient. The other forms of combining values don’t reflect this direct proportionality, which is why they aren’t correct.

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