1 Chapter 2 : Acid, Bases and Salt

Buffer solution
Definition: A solution which resists any change in its pH value on addition of small amount of acid or
base to it.
There are three types of buffer solution
(i) Acidic buffer: When concentration of WA is more than that of SB acidic buffer is formed. These
are solution of mixture of weak acid (WA) and a salt of weak acid with a strong base (WASB).
Ex: CH3COOH + CH3COONa
(ii) Basic buffer: When concentration of WB is more than that of SA basic buffer is formed .These
are solution of mixture of weak base (WB) and a salt of weak base with a strong acid (WBSA).
Ex: NH4(OH) + NH4Cl
(iii) Salt buffer: The solution of the salt of a weak acid (WA) and weak base (WB).In that case
concentration of WA equals to the concentration of WB.
Ex: CH3COONH4
How buffer works
Acidic buffer: CH3COOH + CH3COONa

CH3COO- + Na+
When small amount of acid is added CH3COO- + H+ = CH3COOH
When small amount of base is added CH3COOH + OH- = CH3COO- + H2O
Basic buffer: NH4(OH) + NH4Cl

NH4+ + CI-
When small amount of acid is added NH4(OH) + H+ = NH4+ + H2O
When small amount of base is added NH4+ + OH- = NH4(OH)
Salt buffer: CH3COONH4 CH3COO- + NH4+
When small amount of acid is added CH3COO- + H+ = CH3COOH
When small amount of base is added NH4+ + OH- = NH4(OH)

Buffer capacity: Buffer capacity is the number of moles of acid or base required to change the pH of a
buffer solution by 1 pH unit.

Number of moles of acid or base added

Buffer capacity=
change in pH

PREPARED BY: JOYDEEP DAS (M.TECH, PhD PURSUING) PH: 7005008567/ 9863027277