How do buffer solutions work?
A buffer solution has to contain things which will remove any hydrogen ions or
hydroxide ions that we might add to it where the pH will change.
1. Acidic buffer solutions
Take a mixture of ethanoic acid and sodium ethanoate as acidic buffer solutions. As
we know ethanoic acid is a weak acid and the position of this equilibrium shift to the
left
Adding sodium ethanoate which fully ionized in aqueous solution which generate
extra ethanoate ions.
CH3COONa(S) + aq Na+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq)
According to LeChatelier's Principle that the position of the equilibrium even further
lies the left.
The solution will therefore contain these important things:
Lots of unionized ethanoic acid
Lots of ethanoate ions from the sodium ethanoate
Enough hydrogen ions to make the solution acidic.
Adding an acid to this buffer solution
An increase in hydrogen ion [H+] concentration would greatly lower the pH of water
but when H+ ions are added to the buffer solution;
Addition of H+ ions shifts the position of equilibrium to the left because H+
ions combine with CH3COO- ions to form more CH3COOH until equilibrium
is re-established.
The large reserve supply of CH3COO- ensures that the concentration of
CH3COO- ions in solution does not change significantly.
The large reserve supply of CH3COOH ensures that the concentration of
CH3COOH molecules in solution does not change significantly.
So the pH does not change significantly.
Adding an alkali to this buffer solution
Alkaline solutions contain hydroxide ions and the buffer solution removes most of
these.
the added OH- ions combine with H+ ions to form water
this reduces the H+ ion concentration
the position of equilibrium shifts to the right
So CH3COOH molecules ionize to form more H+ and CH3COO- ions until
equilibrium is re-established
the large reserve supply of CH3COOH ensures that the concentration of
CH3COOH molecules in solution does not change significantly.
the large reserve supply of CH3COO- ensures that the concentration of
CH3COO- ions in solution does not change significantly
So the pH does not change significantly
2. Alkaline buffer solutions
Take a mixture of ammonia and ammonium chloride solutions as alkaline
buffer solutions. As we know ammonia is a weak base and the position of
equilibrium shift to the left.
Adding ammonium chloride which fully ionized in aqueous solution which generate
extra ammonium ions.
NH4Cl(s) + aq NH4+(aq) + Cl-(aq)
According to Le Chatelier's Principle, the position of the equilibrium further to the
left.
The solution will therefore contain these important things:
lots of unreacted ammonia
lots of ammonium ions from the ammonium chloride
Enough hydroxide ions to make the solution alkaline.
Explain how buffer solutions control pH
The maintenance of the blood pH is important for the proper functioning of our body
and can be critical if not maintained.
The main buffers in blood are bicarbonate, haemoglobin, plasma proteins and
phosphates[dihydrogenphosphate(H2PO4-) and hyrogenphosphate(HPO4-) ions].
Mainly, the buffer involves carbonic acid (H2CO3), a weak acid and bicarbonate ion
(HCO3-), the conjugate base.
When any acidic substance enters the bloodstream, the bicarbonate ions neutralize
the hydronium ions forming carbonic acid and water. Carbonic acid is already a
component of the buffering system of blood. Thus hydronium ions are removed,
preventing the pH of blood from becoming acidic. In humans, the pH of the blood is
kept between 7.3and 7.4 by a number of different buffers in the blood.
The cells in our body produce carbon dioxide as a product of aerobic respiration
where carbon dioxide combines with water in the blood to form a solution containing
hydrogen ions.
Above reaction is catalyzed by the carbonic anhydrase enzyme. When the blood
passes through the small blood vessels around our lungs hydrogen carbonate ions
are rapidly converted to carbon dioxide and water thus the carbon dioxide escape
into the lungs.
If the production of hydrogen [H+] ion is unchecked, the pH of the blood lower and
cause acidosis which may disrupt some body functions and eventually lead to
'coma'.
The equilibrium between carbon dioxide and hydrogen carbonate is the most
important buffering system in the blood.
Condition of hydrogen ion concentration
Case 1. If the hydrogen [H+] ion concentration increases
the position of this equilibrium shifts to the left
hydrogen ion combine with hydrogen carbonate [HCO3-] ions to form carbon
dioxide and water until equilibrium is restored
this reduces the concentration of hydrogen ions in the blood and helps keep
the pH constant
Case 2. If the hydrogen ion concentration decreases;
the position of this equilibrium shifts to the right
some carbon dioxide and water combine to form hydrogen ion and hydrogen
carbonate [HCO3-] ions until equilibrium is restored
this increases the concentration of hydrogen ions in the blood and helps keep
the pH constant.
Uses of Buffer solution
Buffer solution play a vital role in
Electroplating
manufacturing of dyes
treatment of leather
fermentation process
used to make sure that pH meters record the correct pH.
Calculation of the pH of a buffer solution
To calculate the pH of a buffer solution, we need to know
the Ka of the weak acid
th equilibrium concentration of the weak acid and its conjugate salt
and we can use the mathematical expression
