Kacey Groves

Dr. Covington

Chem 1121

11/6/2018

A Study of Acids, Bases, and Buffers

Introduction

According to encyclopedia Britannica a buffer is a “solution usually containing an acid

and a base, or a salt, that tends to maintain a constant hydrogen ion concentration.” These

essential solutions are found all over the natural world and are critical to everyday life. The book

Absorption and Drug Development covers the importance of the naturally occurring buffers on

our skin and mucosal layers of our internal organs which allow us to survive as living organisms.

In this lab a acetic acid-acetate buffer was created to test the effectiveness of a buffer an to use

the Henderson Hasselbach equation to calculate the pH of a buffer.

Procedure

For this experiment the first buffer tested was a acetic acid-acetate buffer made of

varying amounts of acetic acid and sodium acetate mixed into test tubes. The pHs of the buffers

were tested and recorded, then H2O, NaOH and HCl were added to the different concentrations

of buffers. The pH was re-tested and recorded. After the empirical data from the probe was

recorded students were asked to find the theoretical pH of the solutions. This was done by

finding the concentration of acetic acid and sodium acetate in the solutions then the number of

moles of acid and base added into the solutions. The results were plugged into the Henderson

Hasselbalch equation (Fig. 1) with the given pKa 1.8*10^-5

 Fig. 1 Henderson Hasselbach Equation

Results

The results for both the theoretical and received pH are listed in the tables below.

Buffer Volume of Volume of [Acid] [Base] Measured Theoretical

Solution acid mL base mL pH pH

A 25.0 25.0 6.25*10^-3 6.25*10^-3 4.59 4.47

B 5.00 45.0 1.25*10^-3 1.13*10^-3 5.57 4.69

C 45.0 5.00 1.13*10^-3 1.25*10^-3 3.68 3.79

Table 1. Buffer Solution Information

These were the pH readings and calculations received with the original three Buffer

solutions, the theoretical pHs of these buffers were calculated using the given pKa (1.8x10^-5)

and the concentration of hydrogen ions in the solutions of the acid and base.

Beaker Solution Measure 1 Measure 2 Theoretical Δ pH

1 Buffer A + HCl 4.63 4.40 5.03 .23

2 H2O + HCl 5.31 2.12 1.70 3.19

3 Buffer A + NaOH 4.68 4.90 4.45 -.22

4 H2O + NaOH 4.74 10.90 12.3 -6.11

Table 2. Buffer solution and acid/base information
 The results in the table above are from combining buffer solution A with both the strong

acid HCl and the strong base NaOH. Note the slight change in pH in contract to the large change

in pH seen in the control test tubes 1 and 2. These solutions were consisted of the strong base or

acid and H2O which is expected to maintain a neutral pH and be strongly affected with the

introduction of a strong acid or base.

Discussion

The purpose of the experiment was to test the effect buffers had on the ph of a solution.

This was done by making different buffer solutions and measuring their pH. After the best buffer

was determined 2 test tubes of the solution were made. One tube had Hydrochloric acid added to

is while the other had sodium hydroxide added. The pHs were measured and compared against

controls made with distilled H2O and the strong base and acid. Both the theoretical pH and the

received pH were calculated. The read pHs for trials 1-4 after a strong acid or base was added

were: 4.40, 2.12, 4.90 and, 10.90 while the theoretical pHs of the solutions were: 5.03, 1.07,

4.45, and, 12.3. The percent error for the measured and theoretical pHs of the buffer solutions

was -5.14% while the percent error for the buffer solutions and the strong acid and base was -

.45%. It should be noted that the pH change in the buffer solution seen in trials (2 and 4) was

miniscule while the pH change in the water solution (seen in trials 1 and 3) was significantly

greater. Thus it can be concluded that the buffer was acting effectively in this situation. Kortni

Anderson also completed the experiment and found that the buffer was effective at maintaining

pH. It should be noted that when distilled water is allowed to sit stagnant for long periods of time

it becomes slightly acidic due to carbons in the air. This may have skewed pH readings and
should be avoided in future experiments. In addition any strong acids or bases can be tested with

the buffer to see if the buffer is still effective in controlling the pH.

References

Avdeef, A. (2012). Absorption and drug development : solubility, permeability, and charge state.

Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.ezproxy.lib.apsu.edu

Britannica, T. E. (2013, June 05). Buffer. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/science/buffer-chemistry

Gunawardena, G. (n.d.). Henderson-Hasselbach Equation. Retrieved from

http://www.ochempal.org/index.php/alphabetical/g-h/henderson-hasselbach-equation/