Buffer Solution Definition

A buffer solution is a solution that resists changes in hydrogen ion concentration when a modest amount of acid or base is added. In other words, such solutions are known to have reverse acidity and reverse basicity and to keep a reasonably steady pH value. A good example of a natural buffer solution is human blood. Despite eating a wide array of meals, our blood maintains a pH of roughly 7.35.

Buffer Solution is a water-based solvent-based solution made up of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base and its conjugate acid. They are resistant to changes in pH caused by dilution or the addition of relatively small amounts of acid or alkali. When a small amount of strong acid or strong base is added, the pH of the buffer solution changes very little. As a result, they’re used to maintaining a steady pH. When a tiny amount of strong acid or base is given to it, its pH varies very little, and it is thus used to keep a solution’s pH stable.

A buffer solution is one that can maintain its hydrogen ion concentration (pH) with just slight dilution or the addition of a small amount of acid or base. Fermentation, food preservation, medicine administration, electroplating, printing, enzyme activity, and blood oxygen-carrying capability all require particular hydrogen ion concentrations (pH) in buffer solutions. Buffer solutions are made up of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid that can maintain pH.

Buffer Solution

Buffer Solution is a special aqueous solution that resists the change in its pH when some quantity of acid and Base is added. Many fluids, such as blood, have specific pH values of 7.14, and variations in these values indicate that the body is malfunctioning.  The change in pH of Buffer Solutions on adding a small quantity of acid or bases is very minimal and hence they are used to make solutions that resist the change in pH.

Let us learn about Buffer solution, its types, and others in this article.

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Buffer Solution Definition

A buffer solution is a solution that resists changes in hydrogen ion concentration when a modest amount of acid or base is added. In other words, such solutions are known to have reverse acidity and reverse basicity and to keep a reasonably steady pH value. A good example of a natural buffer solution is human blood. Despite eating a wide array of meals, our blood maintains a pH of roughly 7.35....

Types of Buffer Solutions

Acidic and basic buffers are the two types of buffer solutions that are extensively classified. These are discussed in greater depth down below....

Mechanism of Buffering Action

To understand how a buffer works, think about the example of a buffer solution created by combining sodium acetate and acetic acid. Acetate acid, as implied by its name, is an acid with the chemical formula CH3COOH, whereas sodium acetate dissociates in solution to produce the conjugate base CH3COO– acetate ions. The reaction equation is:...

Preparation of Buffer Solution

A buffer solution can be made by controlling the salt acid or salt base ratio if the dissociation constants of the acid (pKa) and the base (pKb) are known. Weak bases and their conjugate acids, or weak acids and their respective conjugate bases, are used to make these solutions. The Handerson-Hasselbalch equation and the preparation of acidic buffer and basic buffer....

Uses of Buffer Solutions

Various uses of Buffer solution are,...

pH Maintenance

How the pH of any solution is kept constant can easily be explained with the help of the example given below,...

Solved Examples on Buffer Solution

Example 1: What is the pH of a buffered solution of 1.5 M NH3 and 2.5 M NH4Cl when 0.5 M HCl is added to the solution?...

FAQs on Buffer Solution

Question 1: What is a buffer solution?...

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