Chemistry I / Buffers, Hydrolysis and Titration
Practice question · Estimate

A buffer is made from an acid of pKa=4.75\mathrm{p}K_a = 4.75 with a conjugate base to acid ratio of 10 to 1. Set the pH of this buffer.

Estimate on a scale from pH 3 (3) to pH 8 (8).

Hints
  1. Add the logarithm of the ratio to the pKa.
  2. The log of 10 is 1, so the pH sits one unit above the pKa.
Show the answer

5.75 (answers within ±0.2 count)

Why

pH=pKa+log10=4.75+1=5.75\mathrm{pH} = \mathrm{p}K_a + \log 10 = 4.75 + 1 = 5.75. A tenfold excess of conjugate base buys exactly one pH unit, and pushing much beyond that leaves the buffer with very little capacity against added base.

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