Basic Buffer Solutions Explained
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Purnendu BhowmikBasic Buffer Solutions Explained
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Dr. Thamina Acter
Assistant Professor (Chemistry)
Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
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Name : Purnendu Bhowmik Shuvro
ID : 2023-1-60-085
Course Title : Engineering Chemistry
Course Code: CHE109
Section : 07
Semeter : Summer 2023
Basic Buffer Solution
Introduction
Buffer solution is an aqueous solution which maintains its pH fairly constant even upon the
addition of small amounts of acid and base. In other words, buffer solution resists a change in its
pH. If a small amount of an acid or base is added to a buffer solution, the pH will be changed
very little. There are some examples of buffer solution. They are: CH 3COOH + CH3COONa,
NH4OH + NH4Cl, NH4OH + NH4NO3, HCOOH + HCOONa etc. [1][2][3]
There are two common types of buffer solution. They are:
1. Acid buffer solution: A buffer solution is a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base
is called acid buffer solution. Example: CH3COOH + CH3COONa, HCOOH + HCOONa
etc.
2. Basic buffer solution: A buffer solution is a mixture of a weak base and its conjugate acid
is called basic buffer solution. Example: NH4OH + NH4Cl, NH4OH + NH4NO3 etc.
Two substances are represented in the basic buffer solution. They are: 1. Weak base (which does
not completely ionize in water) and 2. Weak base’s conjugate acid. In NH4OH + NH4Cl buffer,
the weak base is NH4OH and its conjugate acid is NH4Cl. It is known as alkaline buffer solution.
Basic buffer solutions find applications in various laboratory and industrial settings. For
example, in analytical chemistry, they are used to maintain a stable pH environment during
experiments that require an alkaline condition. In some industrial processes, where maintaining a
specific pH range is critical, basic buffer solutions are employed to ensure that the desired pH
level is maintained despite potential changes in the environment. [4]
Figure 1: (a) The unbuffered solution on the left and the buffered solution on the right have the
same pH (pH 8); they are basic, showing the yellow colour of the indicator methyl orange at this
pH. (b) After the addition of 1 mL of a 0.01 M HCl solution, the buffered solution has not
detectably changed its pH but the unbuffered solution has become acidic, as indicated by the
change in colour of the methyl orange, which turns red at a pH of about 4.
Discussion
Operation of a basic buffer
The basic buffer action is illustrated by taking of a common buffer system consisting solution of
ammonium hydroxide and ammonium chloride (NH4OH + NH4Cl).
NH4OH (aq) ⇌ NH4+ (aq) + OH-(aq)
NH4Cl (aq) → NH4+ (aq) + Cl-(aq)
1. Common Ion Effect: In the buffer system, NH4Cl is completely ionized. It provides
NH4+ as the common ions in excess. The common ions effect suppresses the ionization of
NH4OH. This reduces the concentration of OH- ions. [5][6]
2. Addition of NaOH: When NaOH is added to the buffer solution, OH- ions associate with
excess of NH4+ ions to form unassociated NH4OH. Thus the pH of the buffer is
maintained approximately constant.
Figure 2: Mechanism of Buffer action of a basic buffer.
Calculation of the pH of a basic buffer
The pH of a basic buffer can be calculated from the dissociation constant, K b of the weak base
and the concentration of the base and the salt used.
The dissociation expression of the weak base BOH, may be represented as
BOH (aq) ⇌ B+ (aq) + OH-(aq)
and Kb = ( [B+] × [OH-] ) ÷ [BOH]
or, [OH-] = ( Kb × [BOH] ) ÷ [B+] ------- (1)
The weak base is only slightly dissociated and its dissociation is further depressed by the
addition of the salt (B+Cl-) which provides B+ ions (common ion effect). As a result, the
equilibrium concentration of the unionized acid is nearly equal to the initial concentration of
base. The equilibrium concentration [B+] is presumed to be equal to the initial concentration of
the salt added since it is completely dissociated. So, we can write the equation (1) as
[OH-] = ( Kb × [base] ) ÷ [salt] ------- (2)
where [base] is the initial concentration of the added base and [salt] that of the salt used
Taking negative logs of both sides of the equation (2), we have
-log [OH-] = -log Kb – log ( [base] ÷ [salt] ) ------- (3)
But, -log [OH-] = pOH
and log Kb = pKb
Thus from (3) we have
pOH = pKb - log ( [base] ÷ [salt] ) = pKb + log ( [salt] ÷ [base] )
or, 14 – pH = pKb + log ( [salt] ÷ [base] )
Hence, pH = 14 – pKb – log ( [salt] ÷ [base] )
Significance
A buffer solution of desired pH can be prepared by adjusting the concentrations of the salt and
the base added for the buffer. It is noteworthy that buffer solutions are most effective when the
concentration of the weak base and the salt are about equal. This means that pH is close to the
value of pKb of the base.
Buffer Capacity (basic buffer solution)
Buffer capacity is defined as the number of moles of acid or base added in one liter of solution as
to change the pH by unity.[7][8]
Buffer capacity (Φ) = No. of moles of acid or base added to 1 litre solution/change in pH
Φ = ∂b /∂(pH)
where, ∂b – No. of moles of base added to 1 litre (∂a – No. of moles of acid added to 1 litre)
∂(pH) – change in pH
Applications of basic buffer solution
1. In biological systems, this is an essential condition for enzymes to function correctly. For
example, in human blood a mixture of carbonic acid (H2CO3) and bicarbonate (HCO−
3 ) is present in the plasma fraction; this constitutes the major mechanism for maintaining
the pH of blood between 7.35 and 7.45. Outside this narrow range (7.40 ± 0.05 pH unit),
acidosis and alkalosis metabolic conditions rapidly develop, ultimately leading to death if
the correct buffering capacity is not rapidly restored. If the pH value of a solution rises or
falls too much, the effectiveness of an enzyme decreases in a process, known as
denaturation, which is usually irreversible.[9]
2. In industry, buffering agents are used in fermentation processes and in setting the correct
conditions for dyes used in coloring fabrics. They are also used in chemical analysis and
calibration of pH meters.[10]
Figure 3: Oxygen-carbon dioxide transport and release by blood. (a) The partial pressure of CO₂
is higher in the metabolizing tissues than in the plasma. Thus, it diffuses into the blood
capillaries and then into erythrocytes. There it is converted to carbonic acid by the enzyme
carbonic anhydrase (CA). The protons provided by the carbonic acid then combine with the
HbOz anions to form HHbOz, which eventually dissociates into HHb and O2. Because the
partial pressure of O2 is higher in the erythrocytes than in the tissues, oxygen molecules diffuse
out of the erythrocytes and then into the tissues. The bicarbonate ions also diffuse out of the
erythrocytes and are carried by the plasma to the lungs. (b) In the lungs, the processes are exactly
reversed. Oxygen molecules diffuse from the lungs, where they have a higher partial pressure,
into the erythrocytes. There they combine with HHb to form HHBO, The protons provided by
HHbO, combine with the bicarbonate ions diffused into the erythrocytes from the plasma to form
carbonic acid. In the presence of carbonic anhydrase, carbonic acid is converted to H2O and
CO₂. The CO₂ then diffuses out of the erythrocytes and into the lungs, where it is exhaled.
Conclusion
Basic buffer solutions are crucial tools in chemistry and biology for maintaining stable pH levels
in various applications. By utilizing the principles of weak acids and bases and their conjugate
pairs, these solutions help prevent extreme changes in pH that could disrupt chemical reactions
and biological processes. [11] [12]
References
1. “Chemistry” by Kenneth A. Goldsby, Raymond Chang.
2. “Essentials of Physical Chemistry” by B.S. Bhal, G.D. Tuli, Arun Bhal.
3. “General Chemistry Principles and Modern Applications” by Ralph H. Petrucci.
4. Skoog, Douglas A.; West, Donald M.; Holler, F. James; Crouch, Stanley R. (2014).
Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry (9th ed.).
5. “Chemistry” 10Ed. By Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdah, Donald J. Decoste and
Gretchen Adams.
6. “Principles of General Chemistry” by Martin S. Silberberg.
7. “Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry (9th ed.)” by Skoog, Douglas A.; West, Donald
M.; Holler, F. James; Crouch, Stanley R. (2014).
8. Urbansky, Edward T.; Schock, Michael R. (2000). "Understanding, Deriving and
Computing Buffer Capacity". Journal of Chemical Education.
9. Scorpio, R. (2000). Fundamentals of Acids, Bases, Buffers & Their Application to
Biochemical Systems.
10. “Reactions of acids and bases in analytical chemistry” by Hulanicki, A. (1987).
11. “Principles of Biochemistry” by Albert L. Lehninger, David L. Nelson, and Michael M.
Cox.
12. “Analytical Chemistry” by Gary D. Christian and Purnendu K. Dasgupta