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Buffer Solution pH Calculations Guide

1) A buffer solution consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base. The ratio of acid to conjugate base controls the hydrogen ion concentration and pH. 2) To calculate the pH of a buffer solution, you need the Ka value of the weak acid and the equilibrium concentrations of the acid and conjugate base. 3) The pH of a buffer can also be calculated using pKa instead of Ka. You can determine the amount of conjugate base needed to make a buffer of a particular pH.

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JAYLEN TRACEY
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8 views2 pages

Buffer Solution pH Calculations Guide

1) A buffer solution consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base. The ratio of acid to conjugate base controls the hydrogen ion concentration and pH. 2) To calculate the pH of a buffer solution, you need the Ka value of the weak acid and the equilibrium concentrations of the acid and conjugate base. 3) The pH of a buffer can also be calculated using pKa instead of Ka. You can determine the amount of conjugate base needed to make a buffer of a particular pH.

Uploaded by

JAYLEN TRACEY
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Calculations involving buffer solutions

Equilibrium aspects Consider a buffer solution consisting of a weak acid and its conjugate base:
CH3COOH(aq) Y CH3COO (aq) + H+(aq) weak acid conjugate base We can write an
equilibrium expression for this reaction in terms of hydrogen ions: Ka = [CH3COO ][H+
_______________] [CH3COOH] So [H+] = Ka × _[C__H_3_C__O_O__H__] [CH3COO ] or
more generally [H+] = Ka × _[H__A__] [A ] Since Ka is constant, the ratio of the concentration of
acid to conjugate base (salt) controls the H+ ion concentration (and thus the pH). Dilution of the
buffer has no effect on its pH since A− and HA are diluted equally. Deducing the pH of a buffer
solution We can calculate the pH of a buffer solution if we know: the value of Ka of the weak
acid the equilibrium concentrations of the weak acid and conjugate base. Worked example 1
Deduce the pH of a buffer solution made by adding 0.20mol of sodium ethanoate to 500cm3 of
0.10moldm−3 ethanoic acid. Ka of ethanoic acid = 1.7 × 10−5moldm−3 Step 1: Calculate the
concentrations of the acid and its conjugate base: [CH3COOH] = 0.10moldm−3 [CH3COO ] =
0.2 × _1_0_0_0_ 500 = 0.40moldm−3 Step 2: Rearrange the equilibrium expression in terms of
[H+] ions: [H+] = Ka × _[C__H__3C__O_O__H__] [CH3COO ] Step 3: Substitute the values:
[H+] = 1.7 × 10−5 × _0_._1_0_ 0.40 = 4.25 × 10−6moldm−3 Step 4: Calculate pH: pH = −log10
[H+] = −log10 (4.25 × 10−6 ) pH = 5.4 (to 2 s.f.) We can make buffer solution calculations easier
to deal with if we use the expression: pH = pKa + log10 _[s_a_l_t_] [acid] So if we are given the
pKa or calculate it from Ka , we can do the calculation much more simply. Step 1: Convert Ka to
pKa : −log10 (1.7 × 10−5 ) pKa = 4.77 Learning outcomes On completion of this section, you
should be able to: know how to calculate the pH of a buffer solution from appropriate data
know how to calculate the acid/ base ratio required to make a buffer solution with a particular pH
know how to conduct an experiment to determine the pH of a buffer solution. 119 Chapter 9
Acid–base equilibria Step 2: Substitute into the equation: pH = 4.77 + log10 _____(0__.4__0_)
(0.10) pH = 4.77 + 0.6 pH = 5.4 (to 2 s.f.) Calculating the acid–conjugate base ratio For an
acidic buffer solution, the higher the acid–conjugate base ratio, the lower is the pH of the buffer.
But in order to make a buffer solution with a particular pH, we need to know exactly how much
base to add to an acid or in what volumes to mix solutions of the acid and salt of known
concentrations. The example below shows how to do this. Remember that [salt] is the same as
[conjugate base]. Worked example 2 How many moles of sodium propanoate must be added to
250cm3 of solution containing 0.10mol of propanoic acid to make a buffer solution of pH 5.30?
Ka of propanoic acid = 1.35 × 10−5moldm−3 Step 1: Calculate the concentration of the
propanoic acid: [acid] = 0.10 × _1_0_0_0_ 250 = 0.40moldm−3 Step 2: Calculate [H+] from pH:
[H+] = 10−5.30 = 5.01 × 10−5moldm−3 Step 3: Rearrange the equilibrium expression with [salt]
as the subject: [salt] = Ka × _[a_c_i_d_] [H+] Step 4: Substitute the values: [salt] = (1.35 × 10−5
____________)_×___0_.4_ 5.01 × 10− 5 = 1.08moldm−3 Step 5: Calculate number of moles:
1.08 × _2_5__0_ 1000 = 0.27mol Determining the pH of a buffer solution We can nd the pH of a
buffer solution experimentally by using a glass pH electrode connected to a pH meter. The glass
pH electrode is dipped into the buffer solution and the value of the pH found by direct reading
from the meter. The functioning of the glass electrode is based on the fact that the potential
difference (voltage) between the surface of the glass and the solution varies linearly with the pH.
A hydrogen electrode (see section 10.1) can also be used to determine pH. Exam tips n buffer
solution calculations, do not fall into the trap of thinking that the concentration of hydrogen ions
is the same as the concentration of conjugate base. Remember that hardly any of the conjugate
base comes from ionisation of the acid. t is added as a salt. Key points The pH of a buffer
solution can be calculated using the equilibrium concentrations of the weak acid and its
conjugate base together with the Ka value for the weak acid. The acid/ base ratio of a buffer
solution can be calculated using the values of pH of the solution and the Ka value of the weak
acid. The pH of a buffer solution can be determined experimentally using a glass electrode
connected to a pH meter

Common questions

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It is essential to avoid assuming the concentration of hydrogen ions is the same as that of the conjugate base in buffer solutions because the majority of the conjugate base is not formed from the weak acid's ionization, but is added as a salt. Assuming they are equal could lead to significant errors in calculating buffer capacity and pH, as the buffer's ability to resist pH changes is based on the precise balance of both components .

Equilibrium constants, like Ka for acids, are fundamental to understanding buffer solutions because they quantify the tendency of a weak acid to donate protons. A buffer's effectiveness is defined by its ability to resist changes in pH, hinging on the balance between the weak acid and its conjugate base through the equilibrium expression [H+] = Ka × [HA]/[A−]. This relationship shows how [H+], and consequently pH, is modulated by the concentrations of the buffer components .

When selecting the acid and its conjugate base to prepare a buffer with a specific pH, factors to consider include the pKa of the acid, which should be close to the desired pH for maximum buffering effectiveness. This is because the buffer capacity is optimal when [acid] ≈ [salt], resulting in pH ≈ pKa. Additionally, the chemical properties of the acid and base, such as solubility and stability under conditions of use, must also be considered .

The effectiveness of a buffer solution in maintaining pH is influenced by the ratio of the concentration of acid to its conjugate base. The pH is controlled by this ratio since the concentration of hydrogen ions, [H+], is determined by the equilibrium expression [H+] = Ka × [HA]/[A−]. Given that Ka is constant, changes in the [HA]/[A−] ratio will result in changes to [H+] and hence pH .

Experiments using pH meters validate theoretical calculations of buffer solution pH by providing empirical evidence to compare against theoretical values. A pH meter measures the pH based on the potential difference between the glass electrode and the solution, which should align with the calculated pH obtained through expressions like the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. Consistency between experimental and calculated pH values confirms the accuracy of the theoretical approach .

Experimentally, the pH of a buffer solution can be determined using a glass electrode connected to a pH meter. This technique relies on the principle that the potential difference (voltage) between the surface of the glass and the solution varies linearly with the pH. The glass electrode senses this potential difference, converting it to a pH reading on the meter .

The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation simplifies the calculation of buffer pH by relating pH directly to the pKa and the log ratio of concentrations of the conjugate base to the acid, i.e., pH = pKa + log10([salt]/[acid]). This eliminates the need to calculate [H+] first via the equilibrium expression, which involves more complex rearrangements. It provides a more straightforward calculation by directly substituting known values and simplifying logarithmic manipulation .

Dilution of a buffer solution has no effect on its pH because both the concentrations of the weak acid (HA) and its conjugate base (A−) are reduced equally. This keeps the ratio [HA]/[A−] constant, thereby maintaining the pH according to the equation [H+] = Ka × [HA]/[A−].

To calculate the pH of a buffer solution, you use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation: pH = pKa + log10([salt]/[acid]), where the 'salt' is the concentration of the conjugate base, and 'acid' is the concentration of the weak acid. First, you need to calculate the concentrations of both the acid and conjugate base. Then, substitute these values and the pKa, which is the negative logarithm of the acid dissociation constant (Ka), into the equation to find the pH .

To determine how much conjugate base (salt) must be added to an acid solution to achieve a specific buffer pH, you first calculate the desired [H+] using the equation [H+] = 10^(-pH). Then rearrange the equilibrium expression [salt] = (Ka × [acid])/[H+] to make [salt] the subject. Substitute the known values of Ka for the acid, the concentration of the acid, and the [H+], calculated to find the concentration of [salt]. Multiply by the volume of the solution to get the total moles of conjugate base required .

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