What are the major transport mechanisms for `CO_(2)`? Explain.

Explanation

Plasma and red blood cells transport carbon dioxide. This is because they are readily soluble in water.
(1) Through plasma:
About `7%` of `CO_(2)` is carried in a dissolved state through plasma. Carbon dioxide combines with water and forms carbonic acid.
`CO_(2) +H_(2)O=underset("(Carbonic acid)")(H_(CO_(3))`
Since the process of forming carbonic acid is slow, only a small amount of carbon dioxide is carried this way.
(2) Through RBCs:
About 20 – 25% of `CO_(2)` is transported by the red blood cells as carbaminohaemoglobin. Carbon dioxide binds to the amino groups on the polypeptide chains of haemoglobin and forms a compound known as carbaminohaemoglobin.
(3) Through sodium bicarbonate:
About 70% of carbon dioxide is transported as sodium bicarbonate. As `CO_(2)` diffuses into the blood plasma, a large part of it combines with water to form carbonic acid in the presence of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. Carbonic anhydrase is a zinc enzyme that speeds up the formation of carbonic acid. This carbonic acid dissociates into bicarbonate `(HCO_(3)^(-))` and hydrogen ions `(H^(+))`.
`CO_(2) + H_(2)O overset("carbonic anhydrase")to H_(2)CO_(3)`
`H_(2)CO_(3)underset("anhydrase")overset("Carbonic")to HCO_(3)^(-)+H^(+)`