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A buffer solution is a solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added to it. Buffers do not prevent pH changes entirely — they minimise them.
Buffer solutions are essential in biology (blood pH must stay between 7.35 and 7.45), in industrial processes, and throughout analytical chemistry. At A-Level, you need to understand how they work and how to calculate their pH.
There are two types:
Acidic buffer (pH < 7): Made from a weak acid and its conjugate base (usually as a salt). For example:
Basic buffer (pH > 7): Made from a weak base and its conjugate acid (usually as a salt). For example:
Most Edexcel exam questions focus on acidic buffers.
An acidic buffer contains a large reservoir of:
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