Key Concepts: Buffer Solutions

Core Definitions

• Buffer: A solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.
• Composition: Made of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base and its conjugate acid.
• Buffer Capacity: The amount of acid or base a buffer can absorb before pH changes significantly.
• Biological Example: Blood is buffered at pH 7.4 by the carbonic acid–bicarbonate system (H₂CO₃/HCO₃⁻).