Buffer And Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation Worksheet With Answers

Chapter 16 Worksheet 1

Buffers and the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation

1. State the operational and technical definitions of a buffer.

Operational definition (What does it do?):

A buffer is a solution that resists changes in pH upon the addition of a small amount of

strong acid or strong base.

Technical definition (How do you make one?):

A buffer is composed of a mixture·of a weak acid its conjugate base.

(Sometimes a solution that is technically a buffer does NOT resist changes in pH. This occurs

when so much acid or base are added to the buffer that they become the excess reactant.)

2. The pH of a buffer is determined by two things:

The Ka (or pKa) of the conjugate acid and [A-]

moles A

[HA]

moles HA

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