The body guards its pH (7.35–7.45) with three teams. Each one kicks in at a different speed. Chemical buffers respond in seconds. The lungs take minutes. The kidneys take days, but they are the strongest. Click each one to see how fast and how powerful it is.
Speed vs strength
Left to right shows how fast each team responds. Bar height shows how powerful it is. Fast does not mean strong. The slowest one wins.
Pick a buffer system to explore.
Pick a systemimmediate · minutes · days
How it works
Respiratory rule: breathing controls CO₂, which is an acid. Blow off more CO₂ with faster breathing → pH goes UP. Hold onto CO₂ with slower breathing → pH goes down. In DKA the body hyperventilates to dump acid. Those deep, rapid breaths are Kussmaul respirations.