1. Discuss the importance of buffers inside a human body.

Buffers are important in the proper functioning of cells and blood. When an acid or base
is added to water, the pH changes drastically. When an acid or base is added to a buffer
solution, the pH does not change very much; pH is maintained.

Buffering in blood is crucial to our survival. A buffer is a chemical substance that helps
maintain a relatively constant pH in a solution, even in the face of addition of acids or
bases. Buffering is important in living systems as a means of maintaining a fairly constant
internal environment, also known as homeostasis. Small molecules such as bicarbonate
and phosphate provide buffering capacity as do other substances, such as hemoglobin
and other proteins. The pH of blood must be kept constant for normal body functions to
work. If blood becomes too acidic, or too basic, then enzymes and proteins are unable to
function. Normal blood pH is 7.4. If it drops below 6.8, or rises above 7.8, respiratory and
cardiac function are compromised, the blood-clotting process changes, and death may
occur. Red blood cells play an important role in the removal of excess hydrogen ions in
the body. This is achieved by a carbonic acid/hydrogen carbonate buffering system.

The body's chemical buffer system consists of three individual buffers out of which the
carbonic acid - bicarbonate buffer is considered most important. The explanation here is
cellular respiration produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. This is hydrolysed into
bicarbonate ion in the blood. While in the blood, this bicarbonate ion serves to neutralise
acids introduced in to the blood through other metabolic processes. Bases released in to
the blood are neutralised by carbonic acid. The bicarbonate buffer also plays a significant
role in the digestive system. In the stomach and duodenum it neutralises gastric acids
and stabilises the intra cellular pH of epithelial cells via the secretion of the bicarbonate
ion into the gastric mucosa. Apart from this, the phosphate buffer system operates in the
internal fluids of all cells. The main function of the protein buffer system is to maintain
constant H+ ions. Without these buffer systems, cellular pH and the pH of fluids outside
the cells would fall.

https://sciencing.com/important-buffers-living-systems-8659835.html

https://www.uwa.edu.au/study/-/media/Faculties/Science/Docs/Buffering-systems-in-
the-human-body.pdf
2. Discourse the functions of the following buffers in the human body.
a. Bicarbonate - The maintenance of blood pH is regulated via the bicarbonate buffer.
This system consists of carbonic acid and bicarbonate ions. When the blood pH drops
into the acidic range, this buffer acts to form carbon dioxide gas. The lungs expel this gas
out of the body during the process of respiration. During alkaline conditions, this buffer
brings pH back to neutral by causing excretion of the bicarbonate ions through the urine.
b. Phosphate - The phosphate buffer system acts in a manner similar to the bicarbonate
buffer, but has much stronger action. The internal environment of all cells contains this
buffer comprising hydrogen phosphate ions and dihydrogen phosphate ions. Under
conditions when excess hydrogen enters the cell, it reacts with the hydrogen phosphate
ions, which accepts them. Under alkaline conditions, the dihydrogen phosphate ions
accept the excess hydroxide ions that enter the cell.
c. Ammonia - Ammonium Buffer Solution is used to establish and maintain an ion activity
within narrow range. It is most commonly used to establish hydrogen-ion activity for the
calibration of pH meters, in analytical procedures. It is also used to maintain stability of
various dosage forms.
d. Protein - Proteins consist of amino acids held together by peptide bonds. The amino
acids possess an amino group and a carboxylic acid group. At physiological pH, the
carboxylic acid exists as the carboxylate ion (COO-) with a negative charge and the amino
group exists as the NH3+ ion. When the pH becomes acidic, the carboxyl group takes up
excess hydrogen ions to return back to the carboxylic acid form. If the blood pH becomes
alkaline, there is a release of a proton from the NH3+ ion, which takes the NH2 form.
e. Hemoglobin - The respiratory pigment present in blood, hemoglobin, also has buffering
action within tissues. It has an ability to bind with either protons or oxygen at a given point
of time. Binding of one releases the other. In hemoglobin, the binding of protons occurs
in the globin portion whereas oxygen binding occurs at the iron of the heme portion. At
the time of exercise, protons are generated in excess. Hemoglobin helps in the buffering
action by binding these protons, and simultaneously releasing molecular oxygen.
3. A buffer is prepared containing 1.00 M acetic acid and 1.00 M sodium acetate. What is
its pH?
RICE METHOD:
Reaction CH3COOH (Acetic acid) CH3COO- (Sodium Acetate) H+

Initial 1.00 M 1.00 M 0M

concentration

Concentration -x M +x M +x M

Equilibrium (1.00-x) M (1.00+x) M xM

Ka= 1.76× 10−5. or 0.0000176
Keq=Ka
pKa = -logKa
pKa = -log (1.76*10^5)
= 4.754

Ph formula: Pka +log (acid/base)

1.00 M
pH=4.754+log 1.00 M
Final answer= pH=4.754