Buffers
Definition
Buffers are solutions that resist changes in their pH when small amounts of an acid or a base are added.
Analogy
Imagine you're at a concert with your friends. The crowd around you represents the buffer. If someone tries pushing you (like adding an acid or base), your friends (the buffer) will push back, keeping you from being moved too far from your original spot (resisting change in pH).
Related terms
Buffer Solution: A mixture of weak acids and their conjugate bases, or weak bases and their conjugate acids, which resists changes in pH.
Conjugate Acid-Base Pair: Two substances related by the loss or gain of one hydrogen ion.
Equilibrium Constant Expression for Acids/Bases (Ka/Kb): Mathematical representation showing how concentrations of products over reactants relate at equilibrium for acidic/basic reactions.
"Buffers" appears in:
Study guides (4)
Practice Questions (1)
- Which of the following best explains why the best buffers are created when the concentration of the acid and the conjugate base are the same?
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.