Practice question · Multiple choice
A buffer resists pH change when acid is added, but only up to a point. Why does a buffer eventually stop resisting the change?
Hints
- Ask what is actually reacting with the added acid.
- A buffer at the right pH but very dilute, how much can it absorb?
Show the answer
B. The conjugate base available to neutralise added acid
Why
Buffer pH and buffer capacity are different quantities. The ratio of the pair sets the pH; their absolute amounts set how much insult the buffer can take.
Practise Acid-base language and solution thinking
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