a chlorine crisis is ghetto 🙄

Question 1

what is the normal pH range for blood in the human body?

Answer 1

7.35 - 7.45

Question 2

what happens if the blood’s pH falls below 7.35?

Answer 2

acidosis.

Question 3

what happens if the blood’s pH rises above 7.45?

Answer 3

alkalosis.

Question 4

what is the bicarbonate buffer system?

Answer 4

the bicarbonate buffer system helps maintain a stable blood pH by balancing hydrogen ions (H⁺) and bicarbonate ions (HCO₃⁻).

Question 5

what is the chemical equation for the bicarbonate buffer system?

Answer 5

the chemical equation is:
CO₂ + H₂O ⇌ H₂CO₃ ⇌ H⁺ + HCO₃⁻

Question 6

how does bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) “soak up” excess H⁺ ions in the blood?

Answer 6

bicarbonate reacts with hydrogen ions (H⁺) to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), which then quickly dissociates into CO₂ and water, reducing acidity in the blood.

Question 7

why is the bicarbonate buffer system reversible?

Answer 7

the bicarbonate buffer system is reversible because it can go in either direction to balance blood pH: bicarbonate absorbs H⁺ to reduce acidity or carbonic acid releases H⁺ to lower pH.

Question 8

how does the bicarbonate buffer system help maintain a stable pH in the blood?

Answer 8

when the blood becomes too acidic (low pH), bicarbonate absorbs excess H⁺, forming carbonic acid. when the blood becomes too basic (high pH), carbonic acid releases H⁺ to increase acidity, balancing pH.

Question 9

what role does carbon dioxide (CO₂) play in the bicarbonate buffer system?

Answer 9

CO₂ reacts with water to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃). Increased CO₂ causes more carbonic acid to form, which releases H⁺ and lowers pH, making the blood more acidic.

Question 10

how does the body get rid of excess CO₂ produced by the bicarbonate buffer system?

Answer 10

exhaling.

Question 11

what would happen if there were not enough bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) in the blood?

Answer 11

without enough bicarbonate, the blood would not be able to neutralize excess H⁺ ions effectively, leading to acidosis.

Question 12

what effect does the bicarbonate buffer system have on blood when it’s too acidic?

Answer 12

when the blood is too acidic, bicarbonate reacts with hydrogen ions (H⁺) to form carbonic acid, which reduces the number of H⁺ ions, raising the pH and making the blood less acidic.

Question 13

is carbonic acid a permanent step in the bicarbonate buffer system?

Answer 13

no. it is a “middle-man” step that always dissociates.

Question 14

what is chloride?

Answer 14

chloride is a negatively charged ion (and electrolyte) that plays a role in acid-base balance, fluid regulation, and digestion.

Question 15

what is the normal chloride range in the blood?

Answer 15

95-105 mEq/L

Question 16

what regulates chloride levels in the body?

Answer 16

the kidneys, sweat, and gastrointestinal (gi) juices.

Question 17

what electrolytes have a significant relationship with chloride?

Answer 17

sodium, bicarbonate, and potassium.

Question 18

what is hypochloremia?

Answer 18

hypochloremia is a condition where chloride levels in the blood are lower than 95 mEq/L

Question 19

what are the main causes of hypochloremia?

Answer 19

gi losses (vomiting, suctioning, diarrhea, ileostomy).

diuretics (ex: thiazides).

burns. (fluid loss means chloride loss).

cystic fibrosis (loss of chloride in all that sweat).

fluid overload. (dilutes chloride)

metabolic alkalosis (blood wants high bicarbonate levels to absorb the excess H+, but bicarbonate has an inverse relationship with chloride).

Question 20

s / s of hypochloremia?

Answer 20

overlap with hyponatremia symptoms.

dehydration signs (increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure).

fever.

vomiting, diarrhea.

lethargy, confusion.

Question 21

what is the relationship between hypochloremia and bicarbonate?

Answer 21

they have an inverse relationship; when chloride is low, bicarbonate is high.

Question 22

interventions for hypochloremia?

Answer 22

l.o.s.s.:

l: look at sodium levels and signs of hyponatremia.

o: other labs (high bicarbonate and low potassium).

s: saline (normal 0.9% saline).

s: sources of chloride-rich foods (e.g., table salt, tomatoes, olives, seafood, processed meats).

Question 23

what iv fluid is given for hypochloremia?

Answer 23

normal 0.9% saline (to infuse sodium and chloride into the blood).

Question 24

what is hyperchloremia?

Answer 24

hyperchloremia is a condition where chloride levels in the blood are higher than 105 mEq/L

Question 25

what are the main causes of hyperchloremia?

Answer 25

excess sodium intake.

dehydration.

low bicarbonate levels (metabolic acidosis).

conn syndrome (high aldosterone).

medications (corticosteroids).

Question 26

what are the signs and symptoms of hyperchloremia?

Answer 26

overlap with hypernatremia symptoms:

fatigue.

restlessness, confusion.

increased reflexes and respirations.

seizures and coma.

extreme thirst.

dry mouth and skin.

Question 27

interventions for hyperchloremia?

Answer 27

h.i.g.h. c.l.:

h: hold sodium chloride infusions and restrict sodium-rich foods.

i: instead use lactated ringers (lr).

c: collect intake and output (i&o), daily weights, and vital signs.

l: labs to monitor chloride, sodium, bicarbonate, and potassium levels.

Question 28

why are lactated ringers used for hyperchloremia?

Answer 28

lr contains lactate, which converts to bicarbonate in the body, lowering chloride levels.

Question 29

how does sodium affect chloride levels?

Answer 29

sodium and chloride levels usually rise and fall together.

Question 30

how does bicarbonate affect chloride levels?

Answer 30

they have an inverse relationship; when one increases, the other decreases.

Question 31

what is an electrolyte?

Answer 31

a salt, acid, or base that dissolves into cations or anions in water to produce a solution that conducts electricity due to the ions carrying positive or negative electrical charges.

Question 32

what is metabolic alkalosis?

Answer 32

a condition where the blood becomes too alkaline due to excess bicarbonate or loss of acid.

Question 33

what is mEq/L?

Answer 33

so mEq/L is a unit of measurement that tells how many electrically charged ions are in a liter of a solution.

Question 34

what does the “equivalent” part mean in mEq/L?

Answer 34

the “equivalent” part stems from how many ions would be needed to replace / have the same chemical effect as one mole of H+ or one mole of OH-.

Question 35

what does it mean for chloride to have a “significant relationship” with other electrolytes?

Answer 35

chloride is said to have a “significant relation” with other electrolytes due to the interconnected nature of these ions in maintaining electrical neutrality, fluid balance, and acid-base regulation.

Question 36

what is thiazide?

Answer 36

commonly prescribed diuretics used to manage high blood pressure and fluid retention. they work by reducing sodium and water retention in the kidneys, leading to increased urine output.

Question 37

what is a diuretic?

Answer 37

a type of medication that promotes the increased production of urine, which helps the body get rid of excess salt (sodium) and water.