why should the NaOH solution have turned clear more quickly after exercise compared to before exercise?

One possible explanation for the NaOH solution turning clear more quickly after exercise compared to before exercise is the increase in sodium bicarbonate levels in the blood during and after exercise. When you exercise, your muscles produce lactic acid as a byproduct of metabolism, leading to a decrease in blood pH. To buffer this acidity, the body releases sodium bicarbonate into the blood, helping to neutralize the lactic acid and maintain a stable pH level.

As a result, there may be a higher concentration of sodium bicarbonate in the blood after exercise, which can react more quickly with the HCl in the NaOH solution to form sodium chloride, water, and carbon dioxide, causing the solution to turn clear faster.

Additionally, exercise can also increase blood flow and circulation, which may help deliver the sodium bicarbonate to the solution more efficiently, leading to a quicker reaction and a clearer solution.