Buffers Flashcards
What is a buffer?
Aqueous systems that resist pH charge when small amount of acid or base are added, consist of a wear acid and its conjugate base
Buffering power is maximized when …
amount of proton acceptor=amount of proton donor and pH=pKa, this happens at the midpoint of a titration curve
Buffers result from two ______ reaction equilibrium occurring in a solution of nearly equal ______ _____ and ______ ______ concentrations. Whenever ___ or ____ is added the result is a small change in _____ ____ which leads to a ____ pH change.
reversible/proton donor/proton aceptor/H+/OH-/concentration ratio/small
The small changes are cause by …
the decrease in concentration of one being blanked by the increase of the other so the sum change is nothing/very small
Buffering region is ______ to each conjugate pair
specific
Henderson-Hasselbach equation (for ionization of a weak acid) = ?
pH = pKa+log([A-]/[HA]) / pH = pKa-log([HA]/[A-])
- [A-] = weak/conjugate acid
- [HA] = weak/conjugate base
What are some examples of buffer system uses biologically?
- maintaining intracellular pH
- maintaining in vivo pH
What are in vivo buffer systems based/dependant on?
- phosphate, based on mM concentration
- bicarbonate (for blood plasma)
- histidine (efficient at pH~7.0)