CO2buffering
CO2 buffering refers to the chemical and physiological processes that resist changes in pH caused by fluctuations in carbon dioxide. The bicarbonate buffer system is the most important buffer in many biological fluids, linking CO2 metabolism to acid-base balance.
In water, CO2 dissolves and reacts: CO2 + H2O ⇌ H2CO3 ⇌ H+ + HCO3−. The interconversion is rapid, and
In physiology, buffering operates on multiple time scales. The respiratory system provides short-term buffering by adjusting
In environmental science, ocean buffering involves the carbonate system, including CO2, H2CO3, HCO3−, and CO3^2−. Alkalinity
Understanding CO2 buffering informs medicine, physiology, and climate-related chemistry, and helps diagnose acid-base disorders as well