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AP Chemistry
  • Pages
    • Class
      • Laboratory report rubric
      • Notes
        • 1. Chemical foundations
        • 2. Atoms, molecules, and ions
        • 3. Stoichiometry
        • 4. Types of chemical reactions and solution stoichiometry
        • 5. Gases
        • 6. Thermochemistry
        • 7. Atomic structure and periodicity
        • 8. Bonding: general concepts
        • 9. Covalent bonding: orbitals
        • 10. Liquids and solids
        • 11. Properties of solutions
        • 12. Chemical kinetics
        • 13. Chemical equilibrium
        • 14. Acids and bases
        • 15. Acid-base equilibria
        • 16. Solubility and complex ion equilibria
        • 17. Spontaneity, entropy, free energy
        • 18. Electrochemistry
      • Drug unit
        • Basics
        • Analgesics
        • Antacids
        • Anesthetics
        • Depressants
        • Stimulants
        • Antibiotics
        • Antiviral drugs
        • Mind-altering drugs
    • Textbook (incomplete)
      • 1. Chemical foundations
      • 2. Atoms, molecules, and ions
      • 3. Stoichiometry
      • 4. Types of chemical reactions and solution stoichiometry
      • 5. Gases
      • 6. Thermochemistry
      • 7. Atomic structure and periodicity
      • 8. Bonding: general concepts
    • CED
      • 1. Atomic structure and properties
      • 2. Compound structure and properties
      • 3. Properties of substances and mixtures
      • 4. Chemical reactions
      • 5. Kinetics
      • 6. Thermochemistry
      • 7. Equilibrium
      • 8. Acids and bases
      • 9. Thermodynamics and electrochemistry

15. Acid-base equilibria

Buffers

buffer: solution that resists change in pH
in human body:
e.g. stomach, sweat, blood, saliva
used to protect you from hurting yourself
making a buffer
weak acid and conjugate
weak base and conjugate
do not use strong acid/base (not reversible)
buffer contains both acid and base; reacts with one and then shifts the other way
buffer capacity: amount of acid/base a buffer can absorb before it breaks
capacity measured in concentration (M)
higher molarity → higher capacity

Math of buffers

symbols
strong acid: H⁺ or H₃O⁺
strong base: OH⁻
weak acid: HA
weak base: B
e.g.
strong acid + weak base:
weak acid + strong base:
example buffer:
mix weak acid (e.g. vinegar) with conjugate base (usually salt/solid)
Na is spectator ion
calculate pH using the concentrations of the acid and base
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation: used to calculate pH of buffers
 
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