Showing posts with label Acid Base Learner Series: Buffers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Acid Base Learner Series: Buffers. Show all posts

14.5.16

Acid Base Learner Series: Buffers

Definition of a Buffer

A buffer is a solution containing substances which have the ability to minimise changes in pH when an acid or base is added to it 1.
A buffer typically consists of a solution which contains a weak acid HA mixed with the salt of that acid & a strong base eg NaA. The principle is that the salt provides a reservoir of A- to replenish [A-] when A- is removed by reaction with H+.

Buffers in the Body

The body has a very large buffer capacity.

This can be illustrated by considering an old experiment (see below) where dilute hydrochloric acid was infused into a dog.
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