Chemistry / Unit 10 Chem 1896 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Buffer Capacity
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The idea
Buffer capacity is the strong acid or base a buffer absorbs before its pH changes substantially, growing with the conjugate pair's total concentration.
In practice
A buffer of 1.0 M acetic acid and 1.0 M acetate resists an acid addition far better than one of 0.10 M each.
Where people slip
An equal acid-to-base ratio at low total concentration still has weak capacity despite an ideal ratio.
Your place on the trail
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