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What is a buffer solution?

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Quick answer

A buffer solution is a liquid that resists changes in acidity (pH) when you add acid or base. It contains a balanced pair of chemicals that soak up extra acid or base, keeping the pH steady — crucial for blood and many reactions.

Key things to understand

  1. It keeps pH nearly constant despite added acid or base.
  2. It works using a weak acid and its partner base together.
  3. When acid is added, the base neutralizes it, and vice versa.
  4. Your blood is buffered to stay near pH 7.4.
  5. Buffers are vital in biology, medicine, and lab chemistry.

People also ask

How does a buffer resist pH change?
It holds a reserve of both a weak acid and its base; whichever is added — acid or base — gets neutralized by the matching partner, keeping pH steady.
Why is blood a buffer?
Body chemistry only works in a narrow pH range, so blood's buffers hold it near 7.4 even as acids from metabolism enter.
What happens if a buffer is overwhelmed?
Once its reserves are used up, adding more acid or base swings the pH sharply, just like an unbuffered solution.