Most of the carbon dioxide in the blood is carried by?

Most of the carbon dioxide in the blood is carried in the form of bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) after reacting with water and carbonic acid. About 70% of CO2 is transported this way, while approximately 20-23% is bound to hemoglobin as carbamino compounds, and around 7-10% is dissolved directly in plasma. This bicarbonate formation plays a crucial role in regulating blood pH and maintaining acid-base balance.