Biology HL
Biology HL
4
Chapters
553
Notes
Theme A - Unity & diversity
Theme A - Unity & diversity
Theme B - Form & Function
Theme B - Form & Function
Theme C - Interaction &  Interdependence
Theme C - Interaction & Interdependence
Theme D - Continuity & Change
Theme D - Continuity & Change
IB Resources
Theme B - Form & Function
Biology HL
Biology HL

Theme B - Form & Function

Unlock the Bohr Shift Optimize Oxygen Release!

Word Count Emoji
431 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

🎈 Did you know? Just like you sometimes can't choose between pizza and ice cream, haemoglobin faces choices too! It can't always cling to oxygen, especially when our muscles are hard at work. This is all thanks to our friend - the Bohr shift!

Bohr shift 101 🌟

When you're sprinting or doing that intense dance-off, your muscles work extra hard. They breathe in a lot (aerobic respiration), releasing more CO2 into your blood. Here's the kicker: More CO2 means haemoglobin doesn't hold onto oxygen as tightly. Why? Two cool reasons!

CO2 + water = pH change party! 🥤

  • CO2 meets up with H2O in our red blood cells. They mingle and form hydrogen ions (H+) and hydrogen carbonate ions (HCO3−).
  • CO2 + H2O → H+ + HCO3−
  • This mix makes the blood a bit more acidic (lower pH).

🍋 Real World Example: It's like adding a squeeze of lemon to water. The water gets a tangy taste (acidic). Now imagine this happening inside us! In our lungs, the pH is around 7.4 (neutral, like plain water), but in hard-working muscles, it's around 7.2 (a bit more acidic, like that lemon water). This difference makes it easier for oxygen to bind with haemoglobin in the lungs and let go in active muscles.

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IB Resources
Theme B - Form & Function
Biology HL
Biology HL

Theme B - Form & Function

Unlock the Bohr Shift Optimize Oxygen Release!

Word Count Emoji
431 words
Reading Time Emoji
3 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024

Table of content

🎈 Did you know? Just like you sometimes can't choose between pizza and ice cream, haemoglobin faces choices too! It can't always cling to oxygen, especially when our muscles are hard at work. This is all thanks to our friend - the Bohr shift!

Bohr shift 101 🌟

When you're sprinting or doing that intense dance-off, your muscles work extra hard. They breathe in a lot (aerobic respiration), releasing more CO2 into your blood. Here's the kicker: More CO2 means haemoglobin doesn't hold onto oxygen as tightly. Why? Two cool reasons!

CO2 + water = pH change party! 🥤

  • CO2 meets up with H2O in our red blood cells. They mingle and form hydrogen ions (H+) and hydrogen carbonate ions (HCO3−).
  • CO2 + H2O → H+ + HCO3−
  • This mix makes the blood a bit more acidic (lower pH).

🍋 Real World Example: It's like adding a squeeze of lemon to water. The water gets a tangy taste (acidic). Now imagine this happening inside us! In our lungs, the pH is around 7.4 (neutral, like plain water), but in hard-working muscles, it's around 7.2 (a bit more acidic, like that lemon water). This difference makes it easier for oxygen to bind with haemoglobin in the lungs and let go in active muscles.

Unlock the Full Content! File Is Locked Emoji

Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Biology HL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟