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Buffer

This document discusses weak acids and bases, and buffer solutions. It provides information on: - The ionization of weak acids and bases and how their dissociation constants (Ka and Kb) are used to calculate pH. - What constitutes an acidic and basic buffer solution, which are mixtures that can resist pH changes upon addition of small amounts of acid or base. - How buffers work to remove added H+ or OH- ions and maintain a constant pH through buffer action. - The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates the pH of buffer solutions to the pKa of the acid and the concentrations of the acid and its conjugate base. - Two sample problems demonstrate using the Henderson-

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30 views

Buffer

This document discusses weak acids and bases, and buffer solutions. It provides information on: - The ionization of weak acids and bases and how their dissociation constants (Ka and Kb) are used to calculate pH. - What constitutes an acidic and basic buffer solution, which are mixtures that can resist pH changes upon addition of small amounts of acid or base. - How buffers work to remove added H+ or OH- ions and maintain a constant pH through buffer action. - The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates the pH of buffer solutions to the pKa of the acid and the concentrations of the acid and its conjugate base. - Two sample problems demonstrate using the Henderson-

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abdulghaffarsp8
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Ionization of weak acid and weak base

weak acids and weak bases do not completely dissociate (separate into ions) at
equilibrium in water, so calculating the pH of these solutions requires consideration
of ionization/dissociation constant and equilibrium concentrations.

For weak acid:


HA H+ +A-

Ka= [H+] [A-]


[HA]
For weak base:
A- + H2O HA + OH-

Kb= [HA] OH-]


[A-]
KaKb = [H+] [OH-]
KaKb= Kw Kw= ionic product of water

pKa + pKb = 14
Dr. Piya Seth, Assistant Professor in Chemistry
Buffer solution:
These are solutions that can resist any change in it pH value upon dilution or upon
addition of small amount of a solution of acid or base.
The pH of Buffer Solution shows minimal change upon the addition of a very small
quantity of strong acid or strong base. They are therefore used to keep the pH at a
constant value.
The process by which the added OH- or H+ ions are removed in order to maintain the
constancy in pH is known as buffer action.

Acidic buffer:
mixture containing a weak acid and it’s salt with a strong base
Acetic acid + sodium acetate
Boric acid + Borax
Carbonic acid + sodium bicarbonate
Phthalic acid + potassium hydrogen phthalate

Basic buffer:
mixture containing a weak base and it’s salt with a strong acid
Ammonia + ammonium chloride
Ammonia + ammonium sulphate
Pyridine+ Pyridinium chloride
Dr. Piya Seth, Assistant Professor in Chemistry
Buffer action:
In acidic buffer (AcOH + NaOAc)

NaOAc Na+ + OAc-


When H+ ion is added,
H+ + OAc- AcOH (Weakly ionises)
When OH- ion is added,
OH- + AcOH OAc- + H2O

In basic buffer (NH3 + NH4Cl)


NH4Cl NH4+ + Cl-
When OH- ion is added,

NH4+ + OH- NH4OH (Weakly ionises)


When H+ ion is added,

NH4OH + H+ NH4+ + H2O


Dr. Piya Seth, Assistant Professor in Chemistry
The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation provides a relationship between the pH of acids (in
aqueous solutions) and their pKa (acid dissociation constant). The pH of a buffer solution
can be estimated with the help of this equation when the concentration of the acid and its
conjugate base, or the base and the corresponding conjugate acid, are known.
Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation

pH = pKa + log ([A–]/[HA]) (for acidic buffer)

Where [A–] denotes the molar concentration of the salt and [HA] denotes the molar
concentration of the weak acid.

pOH = pKb + log ([B-]/[BOH]) (for basic buffer)

Where [B–] denotes the molar concentration of the salt and [BOH] denotes the molar
concentration of the weak base.

Buffer capacity
Buffer action is quantitatively expressed in terms of buffer capacity, which is defined as the
amount of strong acid/base required to produce 1 unit change in pH of the buffer solution.

Buffer capacity (β) = db/d(pH)


Dr. Piya Seth, Assistant Professor in Chemistry
Problem 1. A buffer solution is made from 0.4M CH3COOH and 0.6M CH3COO–. If the acid
dissociation constant of CH3COOH is 1.8×10-5, what is the pH of the buffer solution?

pH = pKa + log([CH3COO–]/[CH3COOH])
Here, Ka = 1.8×10-5 pKa= -log(1.8×10-5) = 4.7 (approx.).
Substituting the values, we get:
pH = 4.7 + log(0.6M /0.4M) = 4.7 + log(1.5) = 4.7 + 0.17 = 4.87
Therefore, the pH of the solution is 4.87.

Problem 2: pH of a blood stream is maintained by proper balance of NaHCO3 and


H2CO3. What volume of 5M NaHCO3 solution should be mixed with 10 ml of a sample of
blood which is 2M in H2CO3 in order to maintain pH 7.4.
Given pKa of H2CO3 is 6.11

Let V ml of 5M NaHCO3 is added to 10 ml of 2M H2CO3


(10+V)[NaHCO3] = 5V
(10+V) [H2CO3] = 20
pH = pKa + log ([NaHCO3]/[H2CO3])
pH= pKa + log (5V/20)
7.4= 6.11 + log (5V/20)
V= 78 ml

Dr. Piya Seth, Assistant Professor in Chemistry

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