Why would a buffer be important to homeostasis?

1 Answer
Feb 10, 2017

Does not homeostasis entail "stability in the face of change?"

Explanation:

And as you know buffers work by preventing gross changes in pH. See here for an account of their action. Depending on the capacity of the buffer, pH is restricted to a value tolerably CLOSE to the pK_a of the acid.

The buffer equation tells you this:

pH=pK_a+log_10{[[A^-]]/[[HA]]}

Changes in the concentration of acid or base are moderated by the logarithmic function.