Preparationof a Buffer

Directions: Describe how to create two different buffer solutions--one that will provide an acidic buffer, and one that will provide a basic buffer. Be sure to specify what chemicals are being used, and justify your choices. In order to form a buffer, you need either a weak acid and its conjugate base/salt or a weak base and its conjugate acid/salt. Note: it is important that you add both, not just one due to the only partial dissociation. If you only add one, there will be insufficient ions and acid/base present or an effective buffer solution. An acidic buffer For this you would use ethanoic acid and sodium ethanoate (ethanoic ions) in an aqueous solution. This would mean that when you added an acid, the H + ions would react with the ethanoate ions and so the concentration of hydrogen ions would not change drastically. While the addition of a base, the equilibrium will shift to produce more H+ ions thus minimal change in pH. Only effective when the volume of buffer solution is greater than the volume of acid or base added. Basic buffer Very simple really, the same as above but with a base. You add a weak base such as ammonia and then the conjugate acid/the salt which would be ammonium chloride to produce ammonium ions. When acid is added, it will react with the ammonia to produce more ammonium (basic) ions thus minimal change. When a base is added, they will react with the ammonium ions which would reduce the alkalinity of the solution again minimizing the acid.