A buffer solution is one that resists changes in

pH when small quantities of acid or base are

added to it.

Buffer Solutions • Can be acidic or basic

• Contains entities that can remove any H+ or OH- that are
Section 8.8 added to it

Titration curve of a weak acid with a strong base

Acidic buffers
• Made of a weak acid, and a salt of its conjugate base

Eg. HC2H3O2 and NaC2H3O2

Basic buffers
• Made of a weak base, and a salt of its conjugate acid
Buffering zone – very little change in pH
Eg. NH3 and NH4Cl

How does a buffer work?

Buffer System:
Consider the acidic buffer of acetic acid/acetate ion. HC2H3O2 H+ + C2H3O2-

The two entities exist in equilibrium: Add an acid Add a base

HC2H3O2 H+ + C2H3O2- Acetate ion will react Acetic acid will react
with the H+ with the OH-

The buffer solution contains these entities: Also present, but C2H3O2- + H+  HC2H3O HC2H3O2 + OH-  C2H3O2- + H2O
• Unionized acetic acid not important:
• Ethanoate ions • Na+
• Protons Determines pH • H2 O
 …but why doesn’t the pH change?
The pH of the solution is determined by the RATIO of acid to
conjugate base.

HC2H3O2 ⇌ H+ + C2H3O2- H+ [C2H3O2−]

Ka =
[HC2H3O2]

[HC2H3O2]
Re-arrange for [H+]... [H+] = Ka ×
[C2H3O2−]
The concentrations of [HA] and [A-] change so minimally that the
[HC2H3O2] ratio of [HA]/[A-] remains fairly constant ∴ pH does not change
As long as the ratio of is fairly constant, the pH won’t change.
[C2H3O2−]

Example 1. The buffering capacity of a solution refers to

[C2H3O2−] HOW MUCH acid or base it can handle, without
What ratio of would produce a buffer with a pH of 4.46?
[HC2H3O2]
changing its pH.
 Find the [H+] of a solution with pH 4.46. [H+] = 10-4.46
• A solution with a large buffering capacity can handle a lot of added
[H+] = 3.5 × 10-5 mol/L hydrogen or hydroxide ions.

 Sub known values into Ka H+ [C2H3O2−] [C2H3O2−] • Buffering capacity is determined by the ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDES
Ka = = [H+]
expression. Solve for ratio. [HC2H3O2] [HC2H3O2] of [HA] and [A-].
[C2H3O2−] • Larger concentrations of acid HA and A- are able to neutralize a larger
1.74 × 10-5 = 3.5 × 10-5 mol/L
[HC2H3O2] amount of added base or acid.
[C2H3O2−]
0.50 = (rounded to 2 SD)
[HC2H3O2]

Learning Checkpoint pH Calculations for a Buffer System

• A buffer solution is one that maintains a fairly constant pH, even when
extra acid or base is added to it. • Buffer systems are equilibrium systems
• Have K values
• Made of a weak acid and its conjugate base (acidic buffer), or a weak • Analyze using ICE table
base and its conjugate acid (basic buffer).
• The entities in solution are able to neutralize any added H+ or OH-.
• However ….
H+ and C2H3O2- are not equal in these cases
• The pH of a buffer solution is determined by two things:
• The Ka of the acid (or Kb of the base) Same as the
• The RATIO of HA to A- (or B or BH+, for a basic buffer) H+ [C2H3O2−]
Ka = concentration of the salt
[HC2H3O2]
• The buffering capacity of the solution will be determined by the absolute
magnitudes of these concentrations (as opposed to the ratio). Same as the original
concentration of the acid
 HC2H3O2 H+ C2H3O2-
Example 2. Calculate the pH of a buffer solution that contains Ka for acetic acid is 1.74 × 10-5
E 0.10 – x x 0.20 + x
0.10 mol/L acetic acid, and 0.20 mol/L sodium acetate.
The Ka for acetic acid is 1.74 × 10-5.
 Ka = H [C2H3O2 ]
+ −
Simplifying assumption:
[HC2H3O2]
Logic: This is an acidic buffer solution. The pH will be determined the amount of acid that ionizes, x,
by the concentration of H+ present. is exceedingly small, because of (x)(0.20 + x)
1.74 × 10-5 =
the presence of the acetate ion. (0.10 − x)
• This concentration is, in turn, determined by how much HC2H3O2 is
“allowed” to ionize in the presence of the C2H3O2- ion. 0.10 / Ka >> 100 (x)(0.20)
1.74 × 10-5 =
∴ 0.10 – x ≈ 0.10 (0.10)

HC2H3O2 H+ C2H3O2- x = 8.7 × 10-6 mol/L x/0.10 = 0.087%

I 0.10 0 0.20 The change in acetate ion
concentration will be even more
C -x +x +x  pH = -log [H+]
negligible.
E 0.10 – x x 0.20 + x = - log (8.7 × 10-6 mol/L)
∴ 0.20 + x ≈ 0.20
pH = 5.06

Calculations for basic buffer solutions are very similar. Homework

Example 3. Find the pH of a buffer solution that has 0.10 mol/L
of NH3 and 0.050 mol/L NH4Cl. The Kb of NH3 is 1.8 x 10-5. • Pg. 567 #1-8
• Pg. 565 #1-3
Logic: This basic buffer solution has a pH that is controlled by the reaction of
ammonia with water:
NH3 + H2O NH4+ + OH-
NH3 H2 O NH4+ OH- Solve this one yourself!
I 0.10 - 0.050 0
C -x - +x +x
E 0.10 – x - 0.050 + x x