{"id":877,"date":"2018-03-20T16:25:47","date_gmt":"2018-03-20T16:25:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-orgbiochemistry\/?post_type=chapter&p=877"},"modified":"2018-10-02T21:37:25","modified_gmt":"2018-10-02T21:37:25","slug":"10-5-buffers","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-monroecc-orgbiochemistry\/chapter\/10-5-buffers\/","title":{"raw":"10.5 Buffers","rendered":"10.5 Buffers"},"content":{"raw":"
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Learning Objective<\/h3>\r\n
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  1. Define buffer<\/em> and describe how it reacts with an acid or a base.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    As indicated in Section 10.4 \"The Strengths of Acids and Bases\"<\/a>, weak acids are relatively common, even in the foods we eat. But we occasionally come across a strong acid or base, such as stomach acid, that has a strongly acidic pH of 1\u20132. By definition, strong acids and bases can produce a relatively large amount of hydrogen or hydroxide ions and, as a consequence, have a marked chemical activity. Very small amounts of strong acids and bases can change the pH of a solution very quickly. If 1 mL of stomach acid , approximately 0.05 M HCl(aq) is added to the bloodstream, and if no correcting mechanism is present, the pH of the blood would go from about 7.4 to about 4.9\u2014a pH that is not conducive to continued living. Fortunately, the body has a mechanism for minimizing such dramatic pH changes.<\/p>\r\n

    The mechanism involves a buffer<\/span><\/strong><\/span>, a solution that resists dramatic changes in pH. Buffers do so by being composed of certain pairs of solutes: either a weak acid plus a salt derived from that weak acid or a weak base plus a salt of that weak base. For example, a buffer can be composed of dissolved acetic acid (HC2<\/sub>H3<\/sub>O2<\/sub>, a weak acid) and sodium acetate (NaC2<\/sub>H3<\/sub>O2<\/sub>, a salt derived from that acid). Another example of a buffer is a solution containing ammonia (NH3<\/sub>, a weak base) and ammonium chloride (NH4<\/sub>Cl, a salt derived from that base).<\/p>\r\n

    An acetic acid\u2013sodium acetate buffer<\/strong> demonstrates how buffers work. If a strong base\u2014a source of OH\u2212<\/sup>(aq) ions\u2014is added to the buffer solution, those hydroxide ions will react with un-ionized acetic acid in an acid-base reaction:<\/p>\r\n

    Base added: <\/strong>HC2<\/sub>H3<\/sub>O2<\/sub>(aq) + OH\u2212<\/sup>(aq) \u2192 H2<\/sub>O(\u2113) + C2<\/sub>H3<\/sub>O2<\/sub>\u2212<\/sup>(aq)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Rather than changing the pH dramatically by making the solution basic, the added hydroxide ions react to make water, and the pH does not change much.<\/p>\r\n

    If a strong acid\u2014a source of H+<\/sup> ions\u2014is added to the buffer solution, the H+<\/sup> ions will react with the anion from the salt.<\/p>\r\n

    Acid added: <\/strong>H+<\/sup>(aq) + C2<\/sub>H3<\/sub>O2<\/sub>\u2212<\/sup>(aq) \u2192 HC2<\/sub>H3<\/sub>O2<\/sub>(aq)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Rather than changing the pH dramatically and making the solution acidic, the added hydrogen ions react to make molecules of a weak acid. Figure 10.3 \"The Action of Buffers\"<\/a> illustrates both actions of a buffer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1512\"]\"image\" Figure 10.3 The Action of Buffers.<\/em> Buffers can react with both strong acids (top) and strong bases (bottom) to minimize large changes in pH.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n
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    Note<\/h3>\r\n

    Many people are aware of the concept of buffers from buffered aspirin<\/em>, which is aspirin that also has magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, or some other salt. The salt acts like a base, while aspirin is itself a weak acid.<\/p>\r\n\r\n.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Buffers made from weak bases and salts of weak bases act similarly. For example, in a buffer containing NH3<\/sub> and NH4<\/sub>Cl, ammonia molecules can react with any excess hydrogen ions introduced by strong acids:<\/p>\r\n

    Acid added:<\/strong> NH3<\/sub>(aq) + H+<\/sup>(aq) \u2192 NH4<\/sub>+<\/sup>(aq)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n

    while the ammonium ion [NH4<\/sub>+<\/sup>(aq)] can react with any hydroxide ions introduced by strong bases:<\/p>\r\n

    Base added:<\/strong> NH4<\/sub>+<\/sup>(aq) + OH\u2212<\/sup>(aq) \u2192 NH3<\/sub>(aq) + H2<\/sub>O(\u2113)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    Example 7<\/h3>\r\n

    Which solute combinations can make a buffer solution? Assume all are aqueous solutions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    1. HCHO2<\/sub> and NaCHO2<\/sub><\/li>\r\n \t
    2. HCl and NaCl<\/li>\r\n \t
    3. CH3<\/sub>NH2<\/sub> and CH3<\/sub>NH3<\/sub>Cl<\/li>\r\n \t
    4. NH3<\/sub> and NaOH<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

      Solution<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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      1. Formic acid (HCHO2<\/sub>) is a weak acid, while NaCHO2<\/sub> is the salt made from the anion of the weak acid\u2014the formate ion (CHO2<\/sub>\u2212<\/sup>). The combination of these two solutes would make a buffer solution.<\/li>\r\n \t
      2. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong acid, not a weak acid, so the combination of these two solutes would not make a buffer solution.<\/li>\r\n \t
      3. Methylamine (CH3<\/sub>NH2<\/sub>) is like ammonia with one of its hydrogen atoms substituted with a CH3<\/sub> (methyl) group. Because it is not on our list of strong bases, we can assume that it is a weak base. The compound CH3<\/sub>NH3<\/sub>Cl is a salt made from that weak base, so the combination of these two solutes would make a buffer solution.<\/li>\r\n \t
      4. Ammonia (NH3<\/sub>) is a weak base, but NaOH is a strong base. The combination of these two solutes would not make a buffer solution.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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        Skill-Building Exercise<\/h3>\r\n

        Which solute combinations can make a buffer solution? Assume all are aqueous solutions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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          NaHCO3<\/sub> and NaCl<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/li>\r\n \t

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          H3<\/sub>PO4<\/sub> and NaH2<\/sub>PO4<\/sub><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/li>\r\n \t

        3. \r\n
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          NH3<\/sub> and (NH4<\/sub>)3<\/sub>PO4<\/sub><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/li>\r\n \t

        4. \r\n
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          NaOH and NaCl<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

          Buffers work well only for limited amounts of added strong acid or base. Once either solute is all reacted, the solution is no longer a buffer, and rapid changes in pH may occur. We say that a buffer has a certain capacity<\/span><\/strong><\/span>. Buffers that have more solute dissolved in them to start with have larger capacities, as might be expected.<\/p>\r\n

          Human blood has a buffering system to minimize extreme changes in pH. One buffer in blood is based on the presence of HCO3<\/sub>\u2212<\/sup> and H2<\/sub>CO3<\/sub> [H2<\/sub>CO3<\/sub> is another way to write CO2<\/sub>(aq)]. With this buffer present, even if some stomach acid were to find its way directly into the bloodstream, the change in the pH of blood would be minimal. Inside many of the body\u2019s cells, there is a buffering system based on phosphate ions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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          Career Focus: Blood Bank Technology Specialist<\/h3>\r\n

          At this point in this text, you should have the idea that the chemistry of blood is fairly complex. Because of this, people who work with blood must be specially trained to work with it properly.<\/p>\r\n

          A blood bank technology specialist is trained to perform routine and special tests on blood samples from blood banks or transfusion centers. This specialist measures the pH of blood, types it (according to the blood\u2019s ABO+\/\u2212 type, Rh factors, and other typing schemes), tests it for the presence or absence of various diseases, and uses the blood to determine if a patient has any of several medical problems, such as anemia. A blood bank technology specialist may also interview and prepare donors to give blood and may actually collect the blood donation.<\/p>\r\n

          Blood bank technology specialists are well trained. Typically, they require a college degree with at least a year of special training in blood biology and chemistry. In the United States, training must conform to standards established by the American Association of Blood Banks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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          Concept Review Exercise<\/h3>\r\n
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            Explain how a buffer prevents large changes in pH.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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            Answer<\/h3>\r\n

            [reveal-answer q=\"12711\"]Show Answer[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"12711\"] 1. A buffer has components that react with both strong acids and strong bases to resist sudden changes in pH.[\/hidden-answer]<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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            Key Takeaway<\/h3>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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