Which of the following is characteristic of a buffer? A) The pH will go down significantly when H₃O⁺ is added to a buffer. B) The pH will go down very slightly when H₃O⁺ is added to a buffer. C) The pH will go up significantly when H₃O⁺ is added to a buffer. D) The pH will go up very slightly when H₃O⁺ is added to a buffer.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Buffers are solutions that resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added. They achieve this by containing a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base and its conjugate acid. When an acid or base is added to a buffer, it will react with the conjugate base or acid present in the buffer. This reaction will have a very small effect on the overall pH of the buffer solution. Therefore, the pH will go down very slightly when H₃O⁺, an acid, is added to a buffer.

Which of the Following Is Characteristic of a Buffer