High percentage of `CO_(2)` is transported in dissolved
form as compared to `O_(2)` This is because

Options

A. `O_(2)` has high solubility in plasma
B. `CO_(2)` has high solubility in plasma
C. `pCO_(2)` is high in blood than `pO_(2)`
D. `CO_(2)` has low solubility in plasma

Answer

To answer the question about why a high percentage of CO2 is transported in dissolved form compared to O2, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Transport Mechanism**:
- CO2 and O2 are transported in the blood in different forms. O2 is primarily carried by hemoglobin in red blood cells (RBCs), while CO2 is transported both dissolved in plasma and in other forms.

2. **Solubility in Plasma**:
- CO2 has a higher solubility in plasma compared to O2. This means that a greater amount of CO2 can dissolve in the blood plasma than O2 can.

3. **Percentage of Transported Gas**:
- Approximately 7% of CO2 is transported dissolved in plasma, while 93% is carried in other forms (like bicarbonate). In contrast, only about 3% of O2 is transported dissolved in plasma, with the majority (97%) bound to hemoglobin.

4. **Partial Pressure Consideration**:
- The partial pressure of gases affects their transport. The partial pressure of CO2 in the blood is higher than that of O2, which facilitates the diffusion of CO2 into the plasma.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The high solubility of CO2 in plasma compared to O2, along with the higher partial pressure of CO2 in the blood, explains why a higher percentage of CO2 is transported in dissolved form.

### Final Answer:
The high percentage of CO2 is transported in dissolved form as compared to O2 because CO2 has a higher solubility in plasma than O2, and its partial pressure in the blood is also higher.