Buffers and pH Stability

Buffers help keep the pH of a solution stable when small amounts of acid or base are added. They are made from a weak acid and its conjugate base, or from a weak base and its conjugate acid. This balance lets the solution resist large pH changes until the buffer capacity is exceeded.

One common b...

Adding a small amount of acid or base to a solution can cause a significant decrease or increase in the pH. However, many chemical and biochemical processes need a stable pH to function. Buffers can prevent a drastic change in the pH of a solution when their buffering capacity is not exceeded.

Buffers contain a weak acid and its conjugate...