What is the function of a buffer?
1 Answer
To maintain the
Explanation:
And a buffer thus acts to RESIST gross changes in
Now typically, a buffer consists of a weak acid, and its conjugate base in APPRECIABLE concentrations. And we can represent the acid-base behaviour by the following equilibrium:
And as always, we can represent this by the equilibrium equation.....
And as for any equation, we can manipulate the equation by dividing, multiplying, adding to, subtracting from, provided that we do the SAME thing to BOTH sides of the equality. One thing we can do is to take
And so......
And on rearrangement......
And thus....
This is a form of the buffer equation, which you will have to be able to use effectively. And this says that when
And thus addition of LESS than stoichiometric quantities of acid or base to the solution, does not dramatically alter solution