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A buffer solution is a solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added to it. It contains a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid. Common examples include a solution of acetic acid and sodium acetate or ammonium chloride and ammonia. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates the pH of a buffer solution to the acid dissociation constant (pKa) and the concentrations of the conjugate base and acid. Buffers are important in biological systems like blood to maintain pH homeostasis.

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628 views

Assignment 2

A buffer solution is a solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added to it. It contains a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid. Common examples include a solution of acetic acid and sodium acetate or ammonium chloride and ammonia. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates the pH of a buffer solution to the acid dissociation constant (pKa) and the concentrations of the conjugate base and acid. Buffers are important in biological systems like blood to maintain pH homeostasis.

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edelyn telewik
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© © All Rights Reserved
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1.

A buffer is a solution that can resist pH change upon the addition of an acidic or basic
components. It is able to neutralize small amounts of added acid or base, thus
maintaining the pH of the solution relatively stable. This is important for processes
and/or reactions which require specific and stable pH ranges.
The main purpose of a buffer solution is just to resist the change in pH so that the pH of
the solution won't be much affected when we add an acid or base into it. The added acid
or base is neutralized.

2. 1) If Solubility product is larger than the ionic product then no precipitate will form
on adding more solute because unsaturated solution is formed.
3. 2) If Solubility product is smaller than the ionic product then excess solute will
precipitate out because of the formation of super saturated solution.
4. 3) If Solubility product is equal to the ionic product then saturated solution will
form and addition of more solute will further precipitate out.
5.

The Henderson
-Hasselbalch equation is useful for estimating the pH of a buffer solution and finding
the equilibrium pH in an acid-base reaction.
o The formula for the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation is: [latex]pH=p{ K }_{ a }
+log(\frac { { [A }^{ - }] }{ [HA] } )[/latex], where pH is the concentration of [H+],
pKa is the acid dissociation constant, and [A –] and [HA] are concentrations of the
conjugate base and starting acid.
o The equation can be used to determine the amount of acid and conjugate base
needed to make a buffer solution of a certain pH.

The Henderson–Hasselbalch equation mathematically connects the measurable pH of a


solution with the pKa (which is equal to -log Ka) of the acid. The equation is also useful for
estimating the pH of a buffer solution and finding the equilibrium pH in an acid-base reaction.
The equation can be derived from the formula of pKa for a weak acid or buffer.

4.
5. What is a buffer solution?

Definition

A buffer solution is one which resists changes in pH when small quantities of


an acid or an alkali are added to it.

Acidic buffer solutions

An acidic buffer solution is simply one which has a pH less than 7. Acidic
buffer solutions are commonly made from a weak acid and one of its salts -
often a sodium salt.

A common example would be a mixture of ethanoic acid and sodium


ethanoate in solution. In this case, if the solution contained equal molar
concentrations of both the acid and the salt, it would have a pH of 4.76. It
wouldn't matter what the concentrations were, as long as they were the same.

You can change the pH of the buffer solution by changing the ratio of acid to
salt, or by choosing a different acid and one of its salts.

Which combinations of compounds can make a buffer solution?

1. HCHO2 and NaCHO2

2. HCl and NaCl

3. CH3NH2 and CH3NH3Cl

4. NH3 and NaOH

Solution

1. HCHO2 is formic acid, a weak acid, while NaCHO2 is the salt made from the anion of the weak

acid (the formate ion [CHO2−]). The combination of these two solutes would make a buffer solution.

2. HCl is a strong acid, not a weak acid, so the combination of these two solutes would not make a

buffer solution.

3. CH3NH2 is methylamine, which is like NH3 with one of its H atoms substituted with a CH3 group.

Because it is not listed in Table 12.2 "Strong Acids and Bases", we can assume that it is a weak base.
The compound CH3NH3Cl is a salt made from that weak base, so the combination of these two solutes

would make a buffer solution.

4. NH3 is a weak base, but NaOH is a strong base. The combination of these two solutes would not

make a buffer solution.

Test Yourself

Which combinations of compounds can make a buffer solution?

1. NaHCO3 and NaCl

2. H3PO4 and NaH2PO4

3. NH3 and (NH4)3PO4

4. NaOH and NaCl

Answers

1. no

2. yes

3. yes

4. no

5. Buffers work well only for limited amounts of added strong acid or base. Once either solute is

completely reacted, the solution is no longer a buffer, and rapid changes in pH may occur.

We say that a buffer has a certain capacity. Buffers that have more solute dissolved in them to

start with have larger capacities, as might be expected.

6. Human blood has a buffering system to minimize extreme changes in pH. One buffer in

blood is based on the presence of HCO3− and H2CO3 [the second compound is another way to

write CO2(aq)]. With this buffer present, even if some stomach acid were to find its way

directly into the bloodstream, the change in the pH of blood would be minimal. Inside many

of the body’s cells, there is a buffering system based on phosphate ions.

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