Buffer

BASIC
OVERVIEW
Buffers are chemicals that can reversibly bind free hydrogen ions in fluid solutions and in doing
so prevent, or "buffer", against changes in the fluid's pH.
CHEMISTRY
Buffers exist in both hydrogen-bound and hydrogen unbound forms. The hydrogen bound forms
of buffers, notated as "H-B", are typically uncharged and termed "Weak Acids" due to their
capacity to release a free hydrogen ion into solution. The hydrogen unbound forms of buffers,
notated as "B-", are typically negatively charged and termed "Weak Bases" due to their capacity
to absorb a free hydrogen ion from solution. Given these features the typical chemical equation
for a buffer absorbing or releasing a free hydrogen ion in solution can be written as follows:
B- + H+ H-B
pH BUFFERING
Buffers prevent large swings in the pH of solutions by absorbing or releasing free hydrogen ions
as needed. For example, if free hydrogen ions are added to the solution, say by injection of a
strong acid, the B- form of the buffer will simply absorb most of the added free H + ions,
generating more H-B form, and thus preventing a sharp rise in the free H + concentration (i.e.
drop in pH).
In contrast, if free hydrogen ions are removed from the solution, say by injecting a strong base,
the H-B form of the buffer will dissociate, releasing free H + ions and generating more of the
B- form, thus preventing a sharp drop in the free H+ concentration (i.e. rise in pH).
Given these properties of buffers, it should be intuitively clear that buffers are most capable of
preventing changes in the pH of a solution, in either direction, when there is an equal ratio of the
B- (Weak Base) and H-B forms (Weak Acid) of the buffer in the solution. The pH of a solution at
which buffers display equal ratios of their Weak Acid and Weak Base forms is termed the "pK"
of the buffer and is dependent on the specific chemical features of the buffer. This property of
buffers is discussed further on the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation page.
HENDERSON-HASSELBACH EQUATION
OVERVIEW
The Henderson-Hasselbach Equation describes the relationship between the pH of a buffercontaining fluid with the relative ratio of the Weak Acid (H-B) and Weak Base (B -) forms of that
buffer. Each buffer has a unique ratio of the B - to H-B forms at different pHs (Review: Buffer
Basics). For example, a 1:1 ratio of B- to H-B might occur at pH 2.4 for some buffer while for
another it might occur at pH 4.5. The relationship between the ratio of B - to H-B forms of a
particular buffer at different pHs depends on the unique chemical characteristics of the buffer
itself and can be quantitatively described using the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation.
HENDERSON-HASSELBACH EQUATION
pH = pK + log10([B-]/[H-B])
Where:
pH = pH of the buffer-containing solution
pK = An empirically-determined value unique to each buffer (See below)

[B-] = Concentration of Weak Base form of the buffer

[H-B] = Concentration of Weak Acid form of the buffer
pK
The pK of a particular buffer is the pH of the solution where the ratio between the Weak Base
(B-) and Weak Acid (H-B) forms of the buffer are equivalent. As can be seen, when the value of
[B-] equals that of [H-B], the log term of the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation becomes zero,
leaving pH = pK. The pK of a buffer must be experimentally determined and cannot be
predicted, although it does depend on the unique chemical composition of the buffer.
FEATURES OF THE HENDERSON-HASSELBACH EQUATION
A key concept to appreciate from the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is that the pH of a buffercontaining solution is intimately linked to the ratio of the Weak Base (B -) and Weak-Acid (H-B)
forms of the buffer. Consequently, externally changing the pH of the solution, say by directly
injecting or removing free hydrogen ions, will modify the ratio of B - to H-B forms. Alternatively,
externally changing the concentration of the Weak Base form of the buffer, say by directly
adding or removing B- from the solution, will change the fluid's pH.
TITRATION CURVES
Buffers are most capable of resisting changes to the pH of a solution when the pH of that
solution equals the unique pK of that buffer. As discussed, when the pH of the fluid equals the
buffer's unique pK, the Weak Acid and Weak Base forms of the buffer display equivalent
concentration in the fluid. Consequently, there is plenty of the Weak Acid form of the buffer to
release free hydrogen ions if H + is externally removed from the solution and there is also plenty
of the Weak Base form of the buffer to absorb free hydrogen ions if H + is externally added to the
solution.
The relationship between the amount of free hydrogen ions added to a buffered solution
compared to the changes in the solution's pH is termed the "Titration Curve" and can be plotted.
As can be seen from a buffered solution's titration curve, even large additions of free hydrogen to
the solution result in only small changes in the solution's pH when it is close to the pK of the
buffering chemical. In contrast, when the pH of the solution is far from the pK of the buffer, even
small additions of free hydrogen can radically change the solution's pH.

PHYSIOLOGICAL BUFFERS
Physiological Buffers are chemicals used by the body to prevent sudden, rapid changes in the pH
of a fluid. As explained in our discussion of the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation, buffers are
most able to resist changes in pH when the pH of the solution is close the unique pK of the
buffer. Consequently, physiological buffers must be chemicals whose pKs are near the normal
blood pH which ranges from 7.37 - 7.42. The primary buffers of the ECF appear to be inorganic
phosphate (pK 6.8) and bicarbonate (pK 6.1). However, as explained in their respective pages,
the physiological importance of the bicarbonate buffer vastly exceeds that of inorganic
phosphate.

Physiological buffers are chemicals used by the body to prevent large

changes in the pH of a bodily fluid.
The four physiological buffers are the bicarbonate, phosphate, hemoglobin,
and protein systems.

Explanation:
The pH of a buffer is determined by the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:
pH=pKa+log(AHA)
The buffer is best able to resist changes in pH when the pH of the buffer is
close to the pH of blood (7.37 to 7.42), so the pKa of the acid should be
close to 7.4.
Phosphate Buffer
The phosphate buffer system consists of H2PO4 and HPO24 ions.
The equilibrium is
H2PO4(aq)+H2OH3O+(aq)+HPO24(aq); pKa=7.21
The phosphate buffer can easily maintain a pH of 7.4.
Carbonate Buffer
The equilibrium is

H2CO3(aq)+H2O(l)HCO3(aq)+H3O+(aq); pKa=6.1
This buffer functions in exactly the same way as the phosphate buffer, but it
is not ideal because its pKa is too far from pH 7.4.
Perhaps more importantly, the enzyme carbonic
anhydrase converts H2CO3 into CO2 that is dissolved in the blood and is
then exhaled as CO2gas.
Hemoglobin
The general equation is:

HHb++O2+H2OHbO2+H3O+; pKa=6.8
It shows that oxygenation of Hb promotes the formation of H3O+.
This shifts the bicarbonate buffer equilibrium towards CO2 formation,
and CO2 is released from the red blood cells.
Proteins
A protein is a long chain of amino acid residues, but this long chain still has
free carboxylate groups COO and free amino groups NH2.
We could write the equation for a protein buffer system as

H3+NRCOO+H2OH2NRCOO+H3O+
The protein can then act as a buffer.

Acidbase homeostasis is the part of human homeostasis concerning the

proper balance between acids and bases, also called body pH. The body is very
sensitive to its pH level, so strong mechanisms exist to maintain it. Outside
the

acceptable

range

of

pH, proteins are

denatured

and

digested, enzymes lose their ability to function, and death may occur.
A buffer solution is an aqueous solution consisting of a mixture of a weak acid
and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid. Its pH changes
very little when a small amount of strong acid or base is added to it. Buffer
solutions are used as a means of keeping pH at a nearly constant value in a
wide variety of chemical applications.
Many life forms thrive only in a relatively small pH range so they utilize a
buffer solution to maintain a constant pH. One example of a buffer solution
found in nature is blood. The body's acidbase balance is normally tightly
regulated, keeping the arterial blood pH between 7.38 and 7.42. Several
buffering agents that reversibly bind hydrogen ions and impede any change in
pH exist. Extracellular buffers include bicarbonate and ammonia, whereas
proteins and phosphate act as intracellular buffers. The bicarbonate buffering
system is especially key, as carbon dioxide (CO 2) can be shifted through
carbonic acid (H2CO3) to hydrogen ions and bicarbonate (HCO3-):
[Math Processing Error]
Acidbase imbalances that overcome the buffer system can be compensated in
the short term by changing the rate of ventilation. This alters the
concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood, shifting the above reaction
according to Le Chatelier's principle, which in turn alters the pH.

The kidneys are slower to compensate, but renal physiology has several
powerful mechanisms to control pH by the excretion of excess acid or base. In
response toacidosis, tubular cells reabsorb more bicarbonate from
the tubular fluid, collecting duct cells secrete more hydrogen and generate
more bicarbonate, and ammoniagenesis leads to increased formation of the
NH3 buffer. In responses to alkalosis, the kidneys may excrete more
bicarbonate

by

decreasing

hydrogen

ion

secretion

from

the

tubularepithelial cells, and lowering rates of glutamine metabolism and

ammonium excretion.

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