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Acids and Bases: Buffers |
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How does the buffer from the analysis kit maintain a pH of 10?The answer lies in the ingredients of the buffer. The buffer is a mixture of ammonia (NH3) and ammonium (NH4+).
NH3 + H+ Similarly, if a base (for example, sodium hydroxide, NaOH) is added, it will react with the acid in the buffer, NH4+: NH4+ + OH-
This is how a buffer maintains a near constant pH. Every buffer is made up of a conjugate acid-base pair. If an acid is added to the buffer, it is neutralized by the base; if a base is added to the buffer, it is neutralized by the acid. What is the pH of this buffer solution?The equilibrium between ammonia (NH3) and ammonium (NH4+) can be described with the chemical equation: NH4+ + H2O
The buffer is made by dissolving 2.7 g ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) in 17.8 mL concentrated ammonia (NH3, 16 M) and diluting to 100 mL with distilled water.
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Click on the Check box again to finish calculating the pH of the buffer. |
NH4+ + H2O
Let's look at the general case of a weak acid (HA) and its conjugate base (A-): If we want to calculate pH, we should isolate [ H3O+ ] on one side of the equation: Since pH is equal to the negative log of [ H3O+ ], take the negative log of both sides of the equation: Since log (a x b) = log a + log b, the equation can be rewritten: Just as the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration is called pH, the negative log of the acid ionization constant is called pKa. With this substitution and since - log (a / b) = log (b / a), the equation can be written:
This equation is called the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation and is used to calculate the pH of buffers. |