Final answer:
Increased temperature to 40°C will likely result in bicarbonates being broken down into carbon dioxide and water at a faster rate, due to the endothermic nature of the breakdown process catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the temperature is increased to 40°C, bicarbonates will most likely be broken down at a faster rate to form carbon dioxide and water. This process is influenced by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which helps convert carbon dioxide and water into carbonic acid, which then dissociates into bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) and hydrogen ions (H+).
According to Le Chatelier's principle, increasing the temperature would shift the equilibrium of the reaction towards the products that absorb heat, which in this case are carbon dioxide and water. Consequently, the formation of bicarbonates would be favored at cooler temperatures, while their breakdown to carbon dioxide and water is more favored at higher temperatures like 40°C.