How is chemistry important to the function of the respiratory system?

Answer 1

The most important aspect to respiration is the effect of pH on the capacity of hemoglobin to retain or release oxygen.

The tricky part of oxygen transport is not capturing the oxygen molecule. That's easy; lots of things combine with oxygen. That's what the iron atom at the center of a hemoglobin molecule does.

The tricky part is getting it to let go when you want it to; i.e., at the cells that need the oxygen. Most of the complex, four-part structure of hemoglobin serves the purpose of facilitating the timely release of the oxygen from the iron.

When carbon dioxide builds up in a tissue because the cells' respiration has produced it after the oxygen was used up, it lowers the local pH because CO2 plus water = carbonic acid. Acid pH changes the shape of the hemoglobin molecule and it lets go of its oxygen easier; just the result you want if the local cells are hypoxic (low on oxygen).

In an oxygen-rich environment, like in the alveoli of the lungs, pH is higher and hemoglobin holds on tighter to the oxygen - again, just what you want to happen at that point.

So, acidity and pH balance effect hemoglobin's oxygen carrying capacity. Some chemicals can poison the respiratory system; a good example is carbon monoxide, which locks the hemoglobin so it cannot release the oxygen at all.

Answer 2

Chemistry is crucial to the respiratory system as it involves the exchange of gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide. Hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, binds oxygen thanks to its chemistry, allowing for efficient transport in the bloodstream. The chemical reactions that control pH levels in the blood also play a role in regulating breathing rate to maintain homeostasis.