The phosphate buffer system plays a significant role in the ICF because phosphates are capable of binding and unbinding H⁺, depending on current conditions of acidity or alkalinity.
The phosphate buffer system plays an important role in buffering intracellular fluid (ICF).
H₂PO₄⁻ and HPO₄²⁻ are the two primary components of the phosphate buffer system. When a mixture of these two chemicals is exposed to a potent acid, such as HCl, the hydrogen is absorbed by the base HPO₄²⁻ and transformed into H₂PO₄⁻.
The strong acid, HCl, is replaced by another weak acid, NaH₂PO₄, as a result of this reaction, which also minimizes pH reduction.
The OH⁻ is buffered by the H₂PO₄⁻ to create further amounts of HPO₄²⁻ + H₂O when a strong base, such as NaOH, is added to the buffer system.
In this scenario, a strong base (NaOH) is exchanged for a weak base (NaH₂PO₄), leading to a minimal pH increase.
The body fluids' typical pH is 7.4, so the phosphate buffer system's pK of 6.8, which is close to that value, enables the system to function close to its maximal buffering capacity.
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