Week 10: Acid-Base Equilibrium Pt. 2

Buffers – How Do They Work?

A buffer resists pH change when you add acid or base.is like a pH safety net—it catches extra acid or base before it can change pH too much.

How does a buffer resist pH change?

The weak acid neutralizes added OH⁻, and the conjugate base neutralizes added H⁺.

Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation – Buffer pH Calculation

pH = place + log (A/[HA])

• Used to calculate the pH of a buffer solution.

🔹 Easy way to think about it: The equation tells you how much acid vs. base is present in a buffer solution.

What does the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation calculate?

The pH of a buffer solution based on acid/base ratio.

What happens at the half-equivalence point in a titration?

pH = pKa, meaning the solution is perfectly buffered.