pH and Buffering

Question 1

What is pH?

Answer 1

Its a measure of the free hydrogen concentration

Question 2

Acidosis and Alkalosis?

Answer 2

Acidosis is 7.0 pH
Alkalosis is 7.8 pH
Living range is 7.35 - 7.45 pH

Question 3

What are buffers?

Answer 3

Buffers can resist abrupt and large swings in the bodies pH of body fluids by releasing H+ when the pH begins to rise or binding H+ when the pH drops

Question 4

Acids and Bases?

Answer 4

Acids are H+ donors and bases are H+ acceptors
Acids that dissociate completely are strong acids and those that dont are weak acids
Strong bases are more effective proton acceptors than weak bases

Question 5

The Dissociation constant?

Answer 5

It is the pH at which half of the dissociation has occurred to the acid, which can be used in titrations, to show midpoints. at this point are equal amounts of undissociated acids and its conjugate base
The lower the pKa the stronger the acid

Question 6

Henderson Hasselbach Equation?

Answer 6

pH = pKa + Log10 (A-/HA)

Question 7

The most useful physiological amino acid buffer?

Answer 7

Histidine

Question 8

Haemoglobin as a buffer?

Answer 8

It has a large presence of histidine residues
Deoxy Hb is mainly pronated and carries more H+
Oxy Hb has a lower pKa and is less acidic

Question 9

What is the Equivalence point?

Answer 9

The equivalence point is the vertical part of the curve is where no buffering is occurring
it is when an equivalent number of moles of base and weak acid exist

Question 10

Bronstead-Lowry base pairs?

Answer 10

Conjugate acids and bases are bronstead-lowry acid and base pairs, the acid donates and the base gains