EXERCISE 4

pH and Buffers

I. Introduction
pH is a scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Lower pH values correspond to
solutions which are more acidic in nature, while higher values correspond to solutions which are more basic or alkaline.
At room temperature, pure water is neutral and has a pH of 7.

An acid is a substance that acts as a donor of hydrogen ions. As a consequence, when an acid is dissolved in
water, the equilibrium between the hydrogen and hydroxide ions is changed. Now, there are more H+ ions than OH-
ions in the solution. This kind of solution is called acidic. A base is a substance that receives or accepts hydrogen ions.
When a base gets dissolved in water, the balance between both the H+ and OH− ions shifts in the opposite way. This
is because the base soaks up the H+ ions, which gives rise to a solution having more OH- than H+ ions. This kind of
solution is basic or alkaline

Arrhenius Acid – hydrogen containing compound that, in water, produces H+ (or H3O+) ions
Arrhenius Base – hydroxide-containing compound that, in water, produces hydroxide ions (OH- ions)
Brønsted– Lowry acid is a substance that can donate a proton (H+ ions) to some other substance.
Brønsted–Lowry base is a substance that can accept a proton (H+ ions) from some other substance.

pH may be computed by: 𝑝𝐻 = − log(𝐻 + ) and pOH is 𝑝𝑂𝐻 = − log(𝑂𝐻 − ), together 𝑝𝐻 + 𝑝𝑂𝐻 = 14

The pH of blood ranges from 7.35-7.45, the pH of other body fluids is different. If the pH levels drop below 6.9,
it can lead to coma. At 6.8, you will die (same if your pH rises to 7.8). Acidosis refers to an excess of acid in the blood
that causes the pH to fall below 7.35, and alkalosis refers to an excess of base in the blood that causes the pH to rise
above 7.45.

A buffer is a solution that can resist a drastic pH change upon the addition of an acidic or basic components. It
is able to neutralize small amounts of added acid or base, thus maintaining the pH of the solution relatively stable.

Buffering is important in living systems as a means of maintaining a fairly constant internal environment, also
known as homeostasis. Small molecules such as bicarbonate and phosphate provide buffering capacity as do other
substances, such as hemoglobin and other proteins.

A buffer solution contains a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base (or a weak base and its conjugate
acid).

The buffer pH can be estimated using the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, which is

[𝐴− ]
𝑝𝐻 = 𝑝𝐾𝑎 + log ( )
[𝐻𝐴]

where A is the conjugate base, and HA is the weak acid; pKa is acid dissociation constant

A strong acid is an acid that transfers 100%, or very nearly 100%, of its protons (H +1 ions) to water in an
aqueous solution. Weak acid is an acid that transfers only a small percentage of its protons (H +1ions) to water in an
aqueous solution.

A conjugate acid is the substance formed when a proton (H +1 ions) is added to a Brønsted– Lowry base. A
conjugate base is the substance that remains when a proton (H +1 ions) is removed from a Brønsted–Lowry acid.

CHEM 40.1 BSN (ENGR. JCD)

CHEM 40.1 BSN (ENGR. JCD)
Blood acidity (acidosis/academia) -increases when the level of acidic compounds in the body rises (through increased
intake or production, or decreased elimination).

Blood alkalinity (alkalosis/alkalemia)-increases when the level of acid in the body decreases or when the level of base
increases.
The body's balance between acidity and alkalinity is referred to as acid-base balance.

Buffer systems of the Human Body:

 Role of the lungs – release of carbon dioxide from the lungs. Carbon dioxide, which is mildly acidic, is a waste
product of the processing (metabolism) of oxygen and nutrients (which all cells need) and, as such, is constantly
produced by cells. It then passes from the cells into the blood. The blood carries carbon dioxide to the lungs,
where it is exhaled. As carbon dioxide accumulates in the blood, the pH of the blood decreases (acidity
increases).

The brain regulates the amount of carbon dioxide that is exhaled by controlling the speed and depth of
breathing (ventilation). The amount of carbon dioxide exhaled, and consequently the pH of the blood, increases
as breathing becomes faster and deeper. By adjusting the speed and depth of breathing, the brain and lungs
are able to regulate the blood pH minute by minute.

 Role of the kidneys - kidneys are able to affect blood pH by excreting excess acids or bases. The kidneys have
some ability to alter the amount of acid or base that is excreted, but because the kidneys make these
adjustments more slowly than the lungs do, this compensation generally takes several days.

Acid-Base Disturbances and the Body’s Response

Primary Example Initial Blood pH Compensatory Compensatory
Disturbance Mechanism Change in Blood
pH
Increased acid
production in people Increased breathing
Metabolic acidosis with diabetes due to Too low rate to expel carbon
diabetic ketoacidosis dioxide Increases back
toward normal
Decreased ability to
Increased excretion
Respiratory acidosis breathe due to sever Too low
of acid in the urine
chronic lung disease
Metabolic alkalosis-
too much of a Decreased breathing
Loss of stomach
chemical called Too high rate to retain carbon
acid due to vomiting
bicarbonate in your dioxide
Decreases back
blood.
toward normal
Respiratory
alkalosis- not Hyperventilation due Increased excretion
Too high
enough carbon to anxiety of alkali in the urine
dioxide in your body.
Respiratory. This type occurs when the change in blood pH is caused by a lung or breathing condition.
Metabolic. This type occurs when blood pH changes are due to a kidney condition or issue.

Diabetic ketoacidosis
If you have diabetes, your blood may become acidic if your blood sugar levels aren’t properly managed. Diabetic
ketoacidosis happens when your body can’t make enough insulin or use it properly.
Insulin helps move sugar from the foods you eat into your cells where it can be burned as fuel for your body.
If insulin can’t be used, your body begins breaking down stored fats to power itself. This gives off an acid waste called
ketones. The acid builds up, triggering low blood pH.

References:
 Ballugo, A. (2024). Exercise 1: pH and Buffers Notes.
 Contada, R. S. (n.d.). Biochemistry Lecture Notes. Department of Chemistry-BSU.
 Rogers, E. P. (1987). Fundamentals of Chemistry. Monterey, California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.
 Brutsaert, E. F. (2023, October 9). Diabetic ketoacidosis. MSD Manual Consumer Version.
https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/hormonal-and-metabolic-disorders/diabetes-mellitus-dm-and-disorders-
of-blood-sugar-metabolism/diabetic-ketoacidosis
 Libretexts. (2023, January 30). Weak acids and bases. Chemistry LibreTexts.
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Supplemental

CHEM 40.1 BSN (ENGR. JCD)

 _Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Acids_and_Bases/Ionization_Constants/Weak_Acids_and_
Bases_1
 Valqui, M. (2023, August 24). Weak acids and weak bases. ChemTalk. https://chemistrytalk.org/weak-acids-
and-bases/

II. OBJECTIVE

 To determine the effect of adding small amounts of strong acid and strong base on the pH values of a
buffered and unbuffered solutions.
 Evaluate and analyze the theoretical and experimental aspects of pH and buffer solutions
 Remember the physiological effect of buffer.

III. MATERIALS
Glassware: 50 mL graduated cylinder, stirring rod, 100 mL beaker, medicine dropper, pH meter
Reagents: sodium acetate, acetic acid, HCl, NaOH,

IV. PROCEDURES
NOTE:

A. Adding strong acid to an UNBUFFERED SOLUTION/WATER

1. Measure and place 20 mL of distilled water in a beaker.
2. Determine pH using pH meter/pH strips. Record pH reading in your data table.
3. Add 5 drops of strong acid to the solution. Determine pH.
4. Compute for the change in pH, by subtracting gathered pH values from step 2 and 3.

B. Adding strong base/alkali to an UNBUFFERED SOLUTION/WATER

1. Measure and place 20 mL of distilled water in a beaker.
2. Determine pH using pH meter/pH strips. Record pH reading in your data table.
3. Add 5 drops of strong base/alkali to the solution. Determine pH.
4. Compute for the change in pH, by subtracting gathered pH values from step 3 and 2.

C. Adding strong acid to a BUFFER SOLUTION

1. Measure and place 20 mL of buffer in a beaker.
2. Determine pH using pH meter. Record pH reading in your data table.
3. Add 5 drops of strong acid to the solution. Record pH reading.
4. Add 5 more drops of strong acid to the solution. Record pH reading under Final pH reading.
5. Compute for the change in pH, by subtracting gathered pH values from step 2 and 4

D. Adding strong base/alkali to a BUFFER SOLUTION

1. Measure and place 20 mL of buffer in a beaker.
2. Determine pH using pH meter. Record pH reading in your data table.
3. Add 5 drops of strong base/alkali to the solution. Record pH reading.
4. Add 5 more drops of strong base/alkali to the solution. Record pH reading under Final pH reading.
5. Compute for the change in pH, by subtracting gathered pH values from step 4 and 2.

E. pH level of some commercially available drinks in the Philippines

1. Measure and place 20 mL of apple juice in a beaker then determine pH using a pH meter.
2. Measure and place 20 mL of orange juice in a beaker then determine pH using a pH meter.
3. Measure and place 20 mL of coconut water in a beaker then determine pH using a pH meter.
4. Measure and place 20 mL of electrolyte drink in a beaker then determine pH using a pH meter.
5. Measure and place 20 mL of alkali distilled water juice in a beaker then determine pH using a pH meter.
 Group No. Exercise No. 4 Score
pH and Buffer Solution

Names (Family, First, M.I.) Course-Yr.-Section Date

UNBUFFERED SOLUTION
Brand of distilled water used:

Initial pH Final pH Difference in pH

(final - initial)

pH of water: pH of H2O with strong acid:

pH of water: pH of H2O with strong base:

Name of strong acid added: ______________________ Number of drops added: ______

Name of strong base added: ______________________Number of drops added: ______

BUFFER SOLUTION

Initial pH Final pH Difference in pH

(final - initial)

pH of buffer solution: pH of buffer solution with

strong acid:

pH of buffer solution: pH of buffer solution with

strong base:

Name of strong acid added: ________________________Number of drops added: ______

Name of strong base added: ________________________Number of drops added: ______

SHARED CLASS DATA:

Table 3. pH value of some commercially available drinks

Material (Brand) pH value
Apple juice
Orange juice
Coconut water
Electrolyte Drink (Gatorade-Light blue)
Nature’s Spring Alkali/pH9 Water
Table 4. pH value of some commercially available distilled water
Brand of distilled water pH value
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Answer concisely:
1. To which component does the strong acid reacts when added to the solution (water or
buffer)? _____________ __________________________________________
2. To which component does the strong base reacts when added to the solution (water or
buffer)? ____________ __________________________________________
3. What do you call such reaction/s? ________________________________
4. Between water and buffer, where did you observed a drastic change in pH? ____________
5. Between water and buffer, where did you observed a small change in pH? _____________
6. Is there a limit in the pH resisting capacity of a buffer? _______________