If a buffer is made with the pH below the pK_a of the weak acid, the ratio of [base]/[acid] will be: A)less than 1 B)greater than 1 C)equal to 1 D)equal to 0 E)cannot be determined

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the pH is lower than the pKa of the weak acid, it means that the concentration of H+ ions is higher than the concentration of the weak acid molecules. This results in the partial protonation of the weak acid, reducing the number of free acid molecules. Therefore, the [base]/[acid] ratio is smaller than 1, leading to the best choice being A.

If a Buffer Is Made with the PH Below the PKa

If a Buffer Is Made with the PH Below the PK_a