During a party, Eli loses a bet and is forced to drink a bottle of lemon juice. Not long thereafter, he begins complaining of having difficulty breathing, and his friends take him to the local emergency room. There, he is given an intravenous solution of bicarbonate. Why?

Eli has taken large amount of acidic lemon juice which has increased the blood acidity. As a result, the body reduces the respiration rate to compensate the acidity with decrease exhalation of CO₂. Hence, he is given intravenous solution of bicarbonate to neutralize the blood acidity.

Explanation:

Eli is observing symptoms of difficulty in breathing because his RR is decreased by the autonomic nervous system which is dedicated to maintain normal pH and body hemeostasis. The Respiration center decrease respiration so that less CO₂ is exhaled and greater amount of CO₂ is present in the body to neutralize lemon acid. Hence, Eli is given bicarbonate solution intravenously to make the bicarbonate available in blood stream immediately and lower the acidity of blood.