What happens during the conversion of CO2 in the blood according to the formula provided?

The conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood involves a chemical reaction that produces bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions. When CO2 enters the blood from the tissues, it interacts with water, catalyzed by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). This carbonic acid then dissociates into bicarbonate (HCO3-) and hydrogen ions (H+).

This reaction is crucial for maintaining acid-base balance in the body and plays a significant role in transport of CO2 from the tissues to the lungs. The majority of CO2 in the blood is carried in this bicarbonate form, rather than being physically dissolved in the plasma or bound to proteins. Thus, the transformation of CO2 into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions is an essential process for effective respiratory function and metabolic homeostasis.