Punjab College Of Technical Education

Faculty of Medical Lab Sciences Semester 1

biochemistry
Presentation Synopsis

Topic: Handerson Hasselbalch Equation Dervation and significance

Name; Patience Ndlovu

Submitted To: M.S Pinky

Univ.Roll.No: 2115015

Official Email Address: patiencepctebmls21@gmail.com

 CONTENTS

 Introduction
 Historical view about the equation
 Derivation
 Application
 Limitation
 conclusion
 References

Introduction

What is the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation?

The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation provides a relationship between the pH of acids (in
aqueous solutions) and their pKa (acid dissociation constant). The pH of a buffer solution can
be estimated with the help of this equation when the concentration of the acid and its
conjugate base, or the base and the corresponding conjugate acid, are known.
The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation can be written as:
pH = pKa + log10 ([A–]/[HA])
Where [A–] denotes the molar concentration of the conjugate base (of the acid) and [HA]
denotes the molar concentration of the weak acid. Therefore, the Henderson-Hasselbalch
equation can also be written as:

An equation that could calculate the pH value of a given buffer solution was first derived by
the American chemist Lawrence Joseph Henderson. This equation was then re-expressed in
logarithmic terms by the Danish chemist Karl Albert Hasselbalch. The resulting equation was
named the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation.
History of Henderson Hasselbalch Equation
In 1908, Lawrence Joseph Henderson  derived an equation to calculate the hydrogen ion
concentration of a buffer solution which, rearranged looks like this:
[H+] [HCO3–] = K [CO2] [H2O]

This can be simplified: [H2O] remains constant and physicians are much more familiar
with: PCO2:
[H+] [HCO3–] = K PCO2

Clinically, this simple equation provides all the information required. It is often easy to

anticipate how changes in one variable will affect another: When the PCO2 is constant, then
an increase in [H+] must be associated with a fall in [HCO3–], and an increase in the PCO2 will
normally increase both [H+] and [HCO3–].
In 1909 Søren Peter Lauritz Sørensen introduced the pH terminology which allowed Karl
Albert Hasselbalch to re-express that equation in logarithmic terms,[2] resulting in the
Henderson–Hasselbalch equation (see Acid-Base History):

where:

 pH is the negative logarithm of molar concentration of hydrogen ions in

the extracellular fluid (ECF), as before.
 [HCO−
3] is the molar concentration of bicarbonate in the blood plasma

 PCO2 is the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood plasma.

Derivation of the equation

Derivation of the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation

The ionization constants of strong acids and strong bases can be easily calculated with the
help of direct methods. However, the same methods cannot be used with weak acids and
bases since the extent of ionization of these acids and bases are very low (weak acids and
bases hardly ionize). Therefore, in order to approximate the pH of these types of solutions,
the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation is used.
Let us take an example of ionization of weak acid HA:
HA + H2O ⇋ H+ + A−HA + H2O ⇋ H+ + A−
Acid dissociation constant, K a can be given as:
K a = [H+][A−][HA][H+][A−][HA]
Taking, negative log of RHS and LHS:
−log Ka−log Ka = −log [H+][A−][HA]−log [H+][A−][HA]
⇒−log Ka⇒−log Ka = −log [H+] – log [A−][HA]−log [H+] – log [A−][HA]
As we know, −log [H+]−log [H+] = pHpH and −log Ka−log Ka = pKapKa,
The equation above can also be written as,
pKapKa = pH − log [A−][HA]pH − log [A−][HA]
Rearranging the equation,
⇒pH⇒pH = pKa + log[A−][HA]pKa + log[A−][HA]
The above equation is known as Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, popularly known as
Henderson equation. It is very useful for estimating the pH of a buffer solution and finding
the equilibrium pH in acid-base reactions. From the equation we can infer
when pHpH = pKapKa
log [A−][HA]log [A−][HA] = 00
[A−][A−] = [HA][HA]
That is, when pHpH = pKapKa, concentration of both the species are same or in other words,
acid will be half dissociated.
Similarly, for a weak base B:
B + H2O ⇋ OH− + HB+B + H2O ⇋ OH− + HB+
Base dissociation constant, Kb, of the base can be given as,
KbKb = [BH+][OH−][B][BH+][OH−][B]
Taking negative log of RHS and LHS
−logKb−logKb = −log[BH+][OH−][B]−log[BH+][OH−][B]
⇒−logKb⇒−logKb = −log [OH−]−log[BH+][B]−log [OH−]−log[BH+][B]
As we know, −log [OH−]−log [OH−] = pOHpOH and −logKb−logKb = pKbpKb,
Above equation can be written as,
pKbpKb = pOH − log[BH+][B]pOH − log[BH+][B]
Rearranging the equation,
⇒pOH⇒pOH = pKb+log [BH+][B]

Application

Applications of Henderson Hasselbalch Equation

 It provides the formula for pH value in terms of acidity in chemical as well as

biological systems.
 To calculate the pH of the buffer solution made by mixing salt and weak acid/base.
 It is used to calculate the pKa value.
 Prepare buffer solution of needed pH.
 It is majorly used to calculate the isoelectric point of proteins (the position at which a
protein can neither accept nor yield protons).
Conclusion

 When exactly half of the acid undergoes dissociation, the value of [A]/[HA] becomes
1, implying that the pKa of the acid is equal to the pH of the solution at this point. (pH
= pKa + log10(1) = pKa).
 For every unit change in the pH to pKa ratio, a tenfold change occurs in the ratio of
the associated acid to the dissociated acid. For example, when the pK a of the acid is 7
and the pH of the solution is 6, the value of [A –]/[HA] is 0.1 but when the pH of the
solution becomes 5, the value of [A–]/[HA] becomes 0.01.
 The value of [A–]/[HA] is dependent on the value of the pH and pK a. When pH < pKa;
[A–]/[HA] < 1. When pH > pKa; [A–]/[HA] > 1.

REFERNCES

 https://byjus.com/chemistry/henderson-hasselbalch-equation/
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson%E2%80%93Hasselbalch_equaztion

 https://collegedunia.com/exams/henderson-hasselbalch-equation-derivation-
applications-limitation-formula-chemistry-articleid-606

 https://www.slideshare.net/arusi/henderson-hasselbalch-equation