Buffers Solution & Its

Applications

AbuZar Khalid
3/18/2019
Contents

 Introduction
 Definition
 Types of Buffer Solution
 Buffer Capacity
 Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
 Buffer Capacity
 Applications
• Maintenance of life
• Biochemical Assays
• In shampoos
• In Baby Lotions
• In the brewing Industry
• In the textile Industry
• In Laundry Detergents
Introduction
A buffer is a solution that can resist pH change upon the addition of an acidic or basic
components. It is able to neutralize small amounts of added acid or base, thus maintaining the
pH of the solution relatively stable. This is important for processes and/or reactions which
require specific and stable pH ranges. Buffer solutions have a working pH range and capacity
which dictate how much acid/base can be neutralized before pH changes, and the amount by
which it will change.

Definition
A buffer is a solution containing either a weak acid and its salt or a weak base and its salt, which
is resistant to changes in pH. In other words, a buffer is an aqueous solution of either a weak
acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid. A buffer may also be called a
pH buffer, hydrogen ion buffer, or buffer solution.

Buffers are used to maintain a stable pH in a solution, as they can neutralize small quantities of
additional acid of base.

Types of buffer solutions

There are two types of buffer solutions,

(i) Solutions of single substances: The solution of the salt of a weak acid and a weak base.
Example: ammonium acetate , act as a buffer.

(ii) Solutions of Mixtures: These are further of two types,

(a) Acidic buffer : It is the solution of a mixture of a weak acid and a salt of this weak acid
with a strong base.

Example:

(b) Basic buffer: It is the solution of a mixture of a weak base and a salt of this weak base
with a strong acid.

Example:

Buffer Capacity
For a given buffer solution, there is a working pH range and a set amount of acid or base that
can be neutralized before the pH will change. The amount of acid or base that can be added
to a buffer before changing its pH is called its buffer capacity .
The Common Ion Effect and Buffer Solutions

If a solution is made in which the same ion isproduced by two different compounds the
common ion effect is exhibited. Buffer solutions are solutions that resist changes in pH when
acids or bases are added to them. Buffering is due to the common ion effect Solutions made of
weak acids plus a soluble ionic salt of the weak acid
One example of this type of buffer system is:
The weak acid - acetic acid CH3COOH
The soluble ionic salt - sodium acetate NaCH3COO

Above is the general equation of weak acid ionization

Solubility Product
A solubility product, or Ksp, is the equilibrium constant for a chemical reaction in which a solid
ionic compound dissolves to yield its ions in solution Also Known As: Ksp, ion product, solubility
product constant.
The Ksp expression for a salt is the product of the concentrations of the ions, with each
concentration raised to a power equal to the coefficient of that ion in the balanced equation for
the solubility equilibrium.
The units for solubility products differ depending on the solubility product expression, and you
need to be able to work them out each time
Here is the solubility product expression for barium sulphate again:

Each concentration has the unit mol dm-3. So the units for the solubility product in this case will
be:
(mol dm-3) x (mol dm-3)
= mol2 dm-6

Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation may be used to gauge the approximate pH of a
buffer. In order to use the equation, the initial concentration or stoichiometric
concentration is entered instead of the equilibrium concentration.
The general form of a buffer chemical reaction is:

HA ⇌ H+ + A−

The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates pH, pKa, and molar concentration

(concentration in units of moles per liter):

pH = pKa + log ([A-]/[HA])

[A-] = molar concentration of a conjugate base

[HA] = molar concentration of an undissociated weak acid (M)

The equation can be rewritten to solve for pOH:

pOH = pKb + log ([HB+]/[ B ])

[HB+] = molar concentration of the conjugate base (M)

[ B ] = molar concentration of a weak base (M)

Examples of Buffers

 blood - contains a bicarbonate buffer system

 TRIS buffer
 phosphate buffer

As stated, buffers are useful over specific pH ranges. For example, here is the pH range of
common buffering agents:

Buffer pKa pH range

citric acid 3.13., 4.76, 6.40 2.1 to 7.4

acetic acid 4.8 3.8 to 5.8

KH2PO4 7.2 6.2 to 8.2

Borate 9.24 8.25 to 10.25

CHES 9.3 8.3 to 10.3

When a buffer solution is prepared, the pH of the solution is adjusted to get it within the
correct effective range.

Typically a strong acid, such as hydrochloric acid (HCl) is added to lower the pH of acidic buffers.
A strong base, such as sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH), is added to raise the pH of alkaline
buffers.

Applications
Maintenance of life
Most biochemical processes work within a relatively small pH range.
The body uses buffers solution to maintain a constant pH.
For example, blood contains a carbonate/bicarbonate buffer that keeps the pH close to 7.4.
Your body uses buffers to maintain a blood pH of 7.35-7.45, and also in a massive number of
biochemical reactions involving enzymes. Enzymes are very complex compounds often
requiring precise pH levels in order to react properly, a role filled by organic buffers produced
by your body. For this same reason, buffers are vital for a biologist or chemist performing
experiments in the lab. A certain pH will often be required in order for the process being
studied to occur, and buffer solutions are the only way to ensure these conditions.

Biochemical Assays
Enzyme activity depends on pH, so the pH during an enzyme assay must stay constant.
In shampoos
Many shampoos use a citric acid/sodium citrate shampoo to maintain a slightly acidic "pH
balance".
This counteracts the basicity of the detergents present in the shampoo.
In baby lotions
Baby lotions are buffered to a pH of about 6.
This hinders the growth of bacteria within the diaper and helps prevent diaper rash.
In the brewing Industry
Buffer solutions are added before fermentation begins.
This prevents the solutions becoming too acidic and spoiling the product.
In the textile Industry.
Many dyeing processes use buffers to maintain the correct pH for various dyes.

In laundry detergents.
Many laundry detergents use buffers to prevent their natural ingredients from breaking down.
Reference
 https://socratic.org › Chemistry › Reactions in Solution › Buffer Theory
 https://www.scribd.com/document/128574710/Buffer-Solution
 https://www.chemguide.co.uk/physical/acidbaseeqia/buffers.html