If the thyroid and parathyroid glands are surgically removed, which of the following would go out of balance without replacement therapy?

A. More carbonic acid is formed: The bicarbonate ion (HCO₃⁻) binds with H⁺ from HCl, forming carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), which helps buffer the drop in pH.
B. Hydrochloric acid is neutralized by sodium hydroxide: Sodium hydroxide is not involved in this buffer system; this describes a basic chemical reaction, not physiological buffering.
C. Carbonic acid is converted into bicarbonate: The reverse happens when acid is added-bicarbonate becomes carbonic acid.
D. The blood plasma pH is reduced: The buffer system prevents a large drop in pH by neutralizing the added acid.

A. Because it saves one step in its synthesis: Zymogen secretion is about preventing premature activation, not simplifying synthesis.
B. So it will start digesting intracellular proteins of the chief cells more quickly: This would be harmful-zymogens prevent self-digestion of the cells that produce them.
C. So it acts only in the stomach lumen and does not digest intracellular proteins: Pepsin is secreted as inactive pepsinogen to prevent it from digesting the proteins inside chief cells. It is only activated to pepsin in the acidic environment of the stomach lumen.
D. So it can start digesting dietary proteins more quickly: Speed is not the reason for secreting it as a zymogen-safety is.