AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Buffers are solutions that resist changes in pH, upon addition of small amounts of acid or base. The can do this because they contain an acidic component, HA, to neutralize OH-ions, and a basic component, A-, to neutralize H+ ions.

Detailed explanation-2: -A buffer is a solution that resists changes in pH upon the addition of a small amount of strong acid or strong base.

Detailed explanation-3: -“A buffer is an aqueous solution that resists changes in pH upon the addition of an acid or a base”. Also, adding water to a buffer or allowing water to evaporate from the buffer does not change the pH of a buffer significantly.

Detailed explanation-4: -Buffer solutions contain high concentrations of both a weak acid and its conjugate base (or a weak base and its conjugate acid). Because these components can neutralize added H⁺ or OH⁻, buffers are highly resistant to changes in pH.

Detailed explanation-5: -The capacity of a buffer to neutralize added acid or base depends on the concentrations of HA and A⁻ in solution. For a given ratio of [HA] to [A⁻], the greater the concentrations, the higher the overall buffer capacity. When [HA] is greater than [A⁻], the capacity is higher for added base than acid.