Which of the following is TRUE?
A) An effective buffer has a [base]/[acid] ratio in the range of 10 - 100.
B) A buffer is most resistant to pH change when [acid] = [conjugate base]
C) An effective buffer has very small absolute concentrations of acid and conjugate base.
D) A buffer can not be destroyed by adding too much strong base. It can only be destroyed by adding too much strong acid.
E) None of the above are true.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A buffer is most resistant to pH change when [acid] = [conjugate base], also known as the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. The ratio of [base]/[acid] in an effective buffer can vary, but typically falls between 0.1 to 10. Option A is not specific enough and is outside the typical range. Option C is incorrect as an effective buffer needs a sufficient concentration of acid and base to function. Option D is incorrect as adding too much strong base can consume all of the available buffer capacity and shift the pH outside of the effective range.

Which of the Following Is TRUE