CHEMISTRY 1B.doc.docVIP

11 Buffer Solutions Introduction Any solution that contains both a weak acid HA and its conjugate base A– in significant amounts is a buffer solution. A buffer is a solution that will tend to maintain its pH when small amounts of either acid or base are added to it. Buffer solutions can be made to maintain almost any pH, depending on the acid-base pair used. The pH of a buffer solution is determined by the Ka of the acid and by the ratio of concentrations of HA and A–. This can be calculated by rearranging the expression for the Ka of the conjugate acid of the buffer: becomes The rearranged equation shows that the H3O+ ion concentration of the buffer solution can be found by multiplying the Ka of the acid by the ratio of the molar concentrations of the two components. To solve directly for the pH of the buffer, the equation can be put into logarithmic form. If the above equation is rearranged and the negative log of both sides is taken, a new form of the equation known as the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation results. Henderson-Hasselbalch equation A buffer solution can maintain its approximate pH when an acid or a base is added to it because it can react with both acids and bases. If a strong acid (H3O+) is added, the basic component of the buffer (A–) can react with it, and if a strong base (OH–) is added, the acidic component of the buffer (HA) will react with it. H3O+ (aq) + A– (aq) (? HA (aq) + H2O (l) OH– (aq) + HA (aq) (? H2O (l) + A– (aq) In this way, any strong acid or strong base that is added to the buffer solution is converted into a weak acid or weak base. The ratio of weak acid to weak base changes, which causes the pH to change slightly, but not drastically. Buffer solutions are most effective when both components, the conjugate acid and the conjugate base, are present in reasonably large concentrations. If this is the case, the buffer is said to have a high buffer capacity. Also, a buffer is most effecti