Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide, CO2, is a chemical compound of carbon and oxygen and therefore belongs to the group of carbon oxides next to carbon monoxide, carbon suboxide and the unstable carbon trioxide. It is an oxidation product of carbon in cell metabolism, occurs in body fluids as dissolved gas and by reaction with water as carbonic acid H2CO3 and its dissociated form HCO2-, as well as their salts (carbonates and bicarbonates). In these different forms it plays an important role in acid-base balance, mineral metabolism, diuresis and respiratory regulation.