MODULE 2.

WATER, ACIDS AND BASES, BUFFERS

INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE: Water is essential for life. It is the universal solvent because
of the electronic properties of this molecule that enables it to interact with many charged or
polar molecules. In this module, we will define acids and bases in water, calculate pH from the
equilibrium concentrations of hydrogen or hydroxide concentrations in solution, define buffer
solutions and their important role in the body, and learn how to make buffer solutions.

Course Outcomes: At the end of the course, the student shall be able to:
1 Describe the chemical structure that make up the components of living matter

2 Describe the interactions of these components that give rise to the organized
supramolecular structures, cells and multicellular tissues
3 Explain how living organisms extract energy from the surroundings to perpetuate life

4 Explain how chemical reactions are regulated inside living cells

5 Explain how organisms store and transmit genetic information to grow and to
reproduce accurately
6 Apply key concepts in biochemistry to explain its practical applications in the field of
nutrition, agriculture, medicine, pharmacy and allied fields
7 Demonstrate good leadership, critical and creative thinking skills and ability to
communicate scientific information clearly and concisely imbued with Augustinian
charism.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Enumerate the properties of water

2. Explain the dominant forces in the chemistry of water
3. Differentiate acids from bases
4. Compute pH and pK values
5. Compute buffer problems

DISCUSSION: Water is the solvent for life. It is found inside and outside of cells of the body. The
body is about 60% water, water found inside cells is comprises the intracellular fluid and that
found outside cells comprises the extracellular fluid. The intracellular fluid volume which
accounts for two-thirds of the body volume, gives form to the tissues and organs and ultimately
to the body. Water also helps in the regulation of body temperature.

Water has a boiling point of 100 oC, a freezing point of 0 oC, has maximum density at 4
o
C, high specific heat, high heat of vaporization and fusion, and high dipole moment. The
presence of dipole moment and its polarity account for the ability of water to form hydrogen
bonds making it a good solvent for polar organic molecules in the body such as proteins and
carbohydrates which are hydrophilic or water-loving molecules, but not fats or lipids which are
hydrophobic or water-fearing molecules and cause hydrophobic aggregation .

Students shall review on their own the concepts they have learned in prerequisite
courses to this course namely, the definition of acids, and bases, what strong and weak acids
and bases are, a good idea of the equilibrium constants for an acid (Ka), a base (Kb), and water
(Kw), and the concepts of pKa, pKb, and pKw. Maintaining the pH of cells and tissues is
important for maintaining body homeostasis or equilibrium. Blood pH is maintained at 7.35 <
pH < 7.45. A slightly acidic pH < 6.95 can lead to coma and death from acidosis, and a slightly
basic pH > 7.70 can cause convulsions and muscle spasms from alkalosis.

How does the body maintain pH in cells? Buffers present in physiologic fluids maintain
the body’s pH. A Buffer solution is a solution that contains a weak acid or base that is capable of
resisting or minimizing the change in pH upon the addition of a strong acid or base. Blood
contains the carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system and physiologic fluids in cells contain the
phosphate buffer system. Buffer solutions can be prepared in the laboratory by mixing a weak
acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid. The Henderson-Hasselbach
equation namely, pH=pKa + log [salt/acid] or pH=pKb + log [salt/base], is helpful in calculating
the proportions of weak acid and its conjugate base or weak base and its conjugate acid needed
to prepare the buffer. Students shall learn to calculate the correct proportions to prepare buffer
solutions of the desired pH. The buffering range for a buffer solution is defined as the pH + 1.
This the range in which the capacity of the buffer to resist drastic changes in pH is maximal.

POWERPOINT : MODULE 2. WATER, ACIDS AND BASES, BUFFERS

VIDEO: METABOLIC AND RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS AND ALKALOSIS

(https://youtu.be/V19KvDH2xel) (34 min 8 sec)

ACTIVITY:

ACTIVITY 2: WATER, ACIDS AND BASES, BUFFERS

SHORT QUIZ: SHORT QUIZ. MODULE 2 WATER, ACIDS AND BASES, BUFFERS (17 POINTS)

TEXTBOOK:

Campbell, Mary K., Farrell, Shawn O., and McDougal, Owen (2018). Biochemistry, Cengage
Learning 9th edition (other editions 8th , 2015 and 7th , 2012)

OTHER REFERENCES:

1. Bettelheim et al. (2019), Biochemistry, C & E Publishing, Inc.

2. Ferrier, D.(2017), Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 7th ed. Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins: Baltimore
3. Garrett, R. and Grisham, C. (2017), Biochemistry, 6th ed. BROOKS/COLE:Cengage
Learning: Boston
4. McKee & McKee(2019), Biochemistry: An Introduction, 7nd Ed., WCB-Mcraw-Hill
5. Nelson and Cox (2017), Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 7th Ed., Macmillan Learning
6. Stoker (2017), Biochemistry, 3rd Ed.,Cengage Learning