how do chemical buffers work

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Buffers work byneutralizing any added acid (H+ions) or base (OH- ions)to maintain the moderate pH, making them a weaker acid or base. Let鈥檚 take an example of a buffer made up of the weak base ammonia, NH3 and its conjugate acid, NH4+.

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How do buffers work? Buffers work by neutralizing any added acid (H+ ions) or base (OH- ions) to maintain the moderate pH, making them a weaker acid or base. Let鈥檚 take an example of a buffer made up of the weak base ammonia, NH3 and its conjugate acid, NH4+.

There are two key terms associated with buffers. A buffer is an aqueous solution that has a highly stable pH. A buffering agent is a weak acid or weak base that helps maintain the pH of an aqueous solution after adding another acid or base.

If a strong base is added to a buffer, the weak acid will give up its H + in order to transform the base (OH -) into water (H 2 O) and the conjugate base: HA + OH – 鈫?A – + H 2 O. Since the added OH – is consumed by this reaction, the pH will change only slightly.

Buffer solutions resist a change in pH when small amounts of a strong acid or a strong base are added ( Figure 1 ). A solution of acetic acid and sodium acetate (CH 3 COOH + CH 3 COONa) is an example of a buffer that consists of a weak acid and its salt.