Chem 1B Dr.

Abel 1
Worksheet 8 - Buffers KEY
1. What is the pH of a buffer containing 0.25 M NH3 and 0.45 M NH4Cl?

0.25
pH = 9.24 + log = 8.98
0.45
2. By how much will the pH change if 0.050 mol HCl is added to 1.00 L of the buffer in the
previous problem?

H 3O+ + NH 3 NH 4 + + H 2O
0.050mol 0.25 mol 0.45 mol
-0.050 mol - 0.050 mol + 0.050 mol
0 mol 0.20 mol 0.50 mol
0.20mol
[NH 3 ] = = 0.20M
1.00L
0.50mol
[NH 4 + ] = = 0.50M
1.00L
0.20M
pH = 9.24 + log
0.50M
pH = 8.84
pH = 8.84 8.98 = 0.14
The pH decreases by 0.14 pH units
3, What is the pH of a buffer that is prepared by mixing 35.0mL of 0.250 M acetic acid and
25.0 mL of 0.180 M NaOH?
HC2H3O2 (aq) + OH- (aq) C2H3O2- (aq) + H2O(l)

Start: 0.00875 0.00450 0

React -0.00450 -0.00450 +0.00450
End: 0.00425 0 0.00450

0.00450 /0.00600
pH = 4.74 + log = 4.76
0.00425 /0.00600
4. How many grams of sodium formate would have to be dissolved in 1.0 L of 0.12 M formic
acid (pKa 3.74) to make the solution have a pH of 3.80? (look up formula for formic acid
and/or formate: Sodium formate NaCOOH)

 Chem 1B Dr. Abel 2

[ formate]
3.80 = 3.74 + log
[ formic acid ]
[ formate]
= 1.14815
[ formic acid ]
[ formate] = 1.14815(0.12M) = 0.137778M
0.137778mol 68.01g
1.0L = 9.4g
L mol
5. Select a good buffer system for a buffer with a pH of 6.6.
Since carbonic acid has a pKa of 6.33, it would be a good choice. So your buffer system
would consist of H2CO3/NaHCO3

6. Calculate the pH of a buffer that is made by dissolving 2.85 g of benzoic acid with 3.78 g of
sodium benzoate in water to a final volume of 500. mL.

Benzoic acid - HC7H5O2 Ka = 6.4x10-5

mol 1
[benzoic acid ] = 2.85g = 0.046675M
122.12g 0.500L
mol 1
[benzoate] = 3.78g = 0.05246M
144.11g 0.500L
0.05246M
pH = log(6.4 x10 5 ) + log = 4.14
0.046675M

7. You have at your lab bench the following chemicals: NaH2PO4(s), Na2HPO4(s), Na3PO4(s),
NH4Cl(s), NaCH3COO(s), CH3COOH(l), 1.00 M NH3, and deionized water. You also have
standard glassware available.

Acid pKa
H3PO4 2.15
H2PO4- 7.20
HPO4-2 12.3
NH4+ 9.24
CH3COOH 4.75

a. Describe how you would make 250.00 mL of buffer with a pH of 7.50 using only the
materials listed above and deionized water so that the concentration of the acid in the
buffer is 0.100 M. Give the amounts of the pure materials in grams if they are solid or
mL if they are liquid.
 Chem 1B Dr. Abel 3

[HPO42 ]
7.50 = 7.20 + log
[H 2 PO4 ]
[HPO42 ] [HPO42 ]
= 1.9952 =
[H 2 PO4 ] 0.100M
[HPO42 ] = 0.19952M
0.19952mol 141.96gNa 2 HPO4
0.250L = 7.1g
L mol
0.100mol 119.98gNaH 2 PO4
0.250L = 3.00g
L mol

Weigh out 7.1g Na2HPO4 and 3.00g NaH2PO4. Add water to get a total volume of
250.00mL.
b. Describe how you would make 1.00 L of a buffer with a pH of 9.10 using only the
materials listed above and deionized water so that the concentration of the base in the
buffer is 0.500 M. Give the amounts of the pure materials in grams if they are solid or
mL if they are liquid.

[NH 3 ]
9.10 = 9.24 + log
[NH +4 ]
[NH 3 ] 0.500M
= 0.72444 =
[NH +4 ] [NH +4 ]
[NH +4 ] = 0.69019M
NH 3 : M 1V1 = M 2V2
(1.00M )V = (0.500M )(1.00L)
V = 0.500L
NH +4 :
0.69019mol 53.49gNH 4 Cl
1.00L = 37g
L mol

Weigh out 37g NH4Cl. Add 0.500L of the 1.00M NH3. Then add water to get a
total volume of 1.00 L.

8. You have at your lab bench the following chemicals: NaH2PO4(s), Na2HPO4(s),
Na3PO4(s), 1.00 M NaOH, 1.00 M HCl, and deionized water. You also have standard
glassware available. Describe how you would make 1 L of buffer with a pH of 7.00
Chem 1B Dr. Abel 4
using one of the solid materials and one of the 1.00 M solutions (HCl or NaOH) so that
the concentration of the acid in the conjugate acid-base pair is 0.100 M. Give the mass
in grams and the volume of solution in mL.
As we learned in lab (and lecture) there are 2 ways to do this
a) Use NaH2PO4 and NaOH:
[HPO42 ]
7.00 = 7.20 + log
[H 2 PO4 ]
[HPO42 ] molesHPO42 molesHPO42
= 0.63096 = =
[H 2 PO4 ] molesH 2 PO4 0.100
molesHPO42 = 0.063096

H2PO4- + OH- H2O + HPO42-

Start: y 0.063096 0
React: -0.063096 -0.063096 +0.063096
End: 0.100 0 0.063096
y-0.063096 = 0.100
y=0.163096 moles H2PO4-

NaOH: 0.063096 moles x L/1.00 moles x 1000mL/1L = 63 mL 1.00 M NaOH

NaH2PO4: 0.163096 moles x 119.98 g/mol = 20. g NaH2PO4

Plus water to give 1 L total volume

b) Use Na2HPO4 and HCl:

[HPO42 ]
7.00 = 7.20 + log
[H 2 PO4 ]
[HPO42 ] molesHPO42 molesHPO42
= 0.63096 = =
[H 2 PO4 ] molesH 2 PO4 0.100
molesHPO42 = 0.063096
HPO42- + H+ H2PO4- + H2 O
Start: y 0.100 0
React:
-0.100 -0.100 +0.100
End: 0.063096 0 0.100
y = 0.163096 moles HPO4-
HCl: 0.100 moles x L/1.00 moles x 1000mL/1L = 100. mL 1.00 M HCl
Na2HPO4: 0.163096 moles x 141.96 g/mol = 23 g Na2HPO4
Plus water to give 1 L total volume