Lab 15 Electrolytes, Water, Acids & Bases BIO202L
Student Name:
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit): AC-JBM7Q58
Pre-Lab Questions:
1. How can eating a high-salt diet increase blood pressure?
In an effort to dilute the salt in the bloodstream the body holds onto water. The extra water in
the blood puts strain on the blood vessels causing high blood pressure.
2. Research the following disorders and write a definition for each:
a. Acidemia: High concentration of hydrogen ions in the blood leads to low pH.
b. Alkalemia: Low concentration of hydrogen ions in the blood leads to high pH.
c. Acidosis: An extremely low pH in the body’s tissues or fluids.
d. Alkalosis: An extremely high pH in the body’s tissues or fluids.
3. Name three ways the body regulates the pH of blood.
Our lungs release the waste from our breathing in the form of CO2, which is acidic. Our kidneys
help rid our bodies of acid through urination. Chemical buffer systems in the body act quickly
in the body to eliminate large swings in pH.
Experiment 1: Breathing and Acid-Base Balance
Table 1: Color Change of Sodium Bicarbonate Solution With and Without the
Addition of CO2
Beaker Starting Color Final Color Time to Change to Final Color
1 pink lighter but still pink tinted 2min
2 pink still pink but almost clear 3min
Post-Lab Questions
1. Was the time required to change the solution different for the two beakers? Why or why
Student Name:
Access Code (located on the lid of your lab kit): AC-JBM7Q58
Pre-Lab Questions:
1. How can eating a high-salt diet increase blood pressure?
In an effort to dilute the salt in the bloodstream the body holds onto water. The extra water in
the blood puts strain on the blood vessels causing high blood pressure.
2. Research the following disorders and write a definition for each:
a. Acidemia: High concentration of hydrogen ions in the blood leads to low pH.
b. Alkalemia: Low concentration of hydrogen ions in the blood leads to high pH.
c. Acidosis: An extremely low pH in the body’s tissues or fluids.
d. Alkalosis: An extremely high pH in the body’s tissues or fluids.
3. Name three ways the body regulates the pH of blood.
Our lungs release the waste from our breathing in the form of CO2, which is acidic. Our kidneys
help rid our bodies of acid through urination. Chemical buffer systems in the body act quickly
in the body to eliminate large swings in pH.
Experiment 1: Breathing and Acid-Base Balance
Table 1: Color Change of Sodium Bicarbonate Solution With and Without the
Addition of CO2
Beaker Starting Color Final Color Time to Change to Final Color
1 pink lighter but still pink tinted 2min
2 pink still pink but almost clear 3min
Post-Lab Questions
1. Was the time required to change the solution different for the two beakers? Why or why
