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Lecture 4 Buffer

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28 views13 pages

Lecture 4 Buffer

Uploaded by

afzalsiddiqui1985
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Buffer

Buffer: Buffers are defined as solutions which resists small


change in pH by adding small amount of acid or base.
Types of buffer solution:
1. Acid buffer: A weak acid together its salt of same acid with a
strong base.

eg, acetic acid (CH3COOH) +sodium acetate (CH3COONa)

2. Basic buffer: A weak base and its salt with a strong acid.

eg, ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH+ ammonium chloride

(NH4Cl).
 Note:
 Weak Acid: A weak acid is an acid that is partially
dissociated into its ions in an aqueous solution or water.
 Strong Acid: a strong acid fully dissociates into its ions in
water.
• Mechanism of buffer action:
Buffering capacity:
• The efficiency of a buffer in maintaining a constant pH on
addition of acid or base is referred to as buffering capacity.
• It mostly depends on the concentration of buffering
component.
• The maximum buffering capacity is achieved by keeping same
concentration of acid and its salt or base and its salt.
Properties of good buffer:
• The buffer should be non-toxic
• The buffer should be able to penetrate cell membrane
• Buffer should have adequate buffering capacity.
• Buffer should not form insoluble complex with any anions or
cations in the reaction.
Role of buffer in vivo

• There are three buffer system in human body to


maintain acid-balance.
• Bicarbonate buffer
• Phosphate buffer
• Protein buffer
Henderson-Hasselbalch Equations

The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is useful for


estimating the pH of a buffer solution and finding the
equilibrium pH in an acid-base reaction.

The equation can be used to determine the amount of


acid and conjugate base needed to make a buffer
solution of a certain pH.
Bicarbonate buffer:
• Sodium bicarbonate and carbonic acid constitute bicarbonate
buffer. It is the most predominant buffer system in plasma.
• It is extracellular buffer
• It helps in maintaining blood pH 7.4.
Phosphate buffer:

• Sodium dihydrogen phosphate and disodium hydrogen


phosphate constitute phosphate buffer.
• It is intracellular buffer
Protein buffer:
• The plasma protein and hemoglobin together constitute protein
buffer system of blood.
• The buffering capacity of protein buffer depends upon pKa of
amino acids.
• The imidazole group of histidine (pKa= 6.7) is the most
effective contributor of protein buffer.
• Hemoglobin of RBCs is also an important buffer.
• Hb binds to H+ ions and helps to transport CO2 as HCO3-
ion with minimum change in pH. In lungs Hb combines with
O2 then H+ ion is released and combine with HCO3- to form
carbonic acid (HCO3-). Later carbonic acid dissociates to
release CO2.

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