BCH Report 1

TITLE
Preparation of acetate buffer.
INTRODUCTION
A buffer solution is a solution that minimize changes in pH when small amounts of

acid or base are added to it. It must be able to partially neutralize both acid and base
that are added. It consists of a conjugate base-acid pair in which both acid and base
have relatively high concentration. A buffer is best used close to its pKa(pKa=
-logKa). Many important reactions in chemistry and biochemistry are pH dependent,
meaning that the pH of the solution can play an important role in determining
whether and how rapidly a reaction take place. Consequently, buffer solutions are
the ones that help keep the pH running many experiments according to Boyer,
(1986).
The Henderson-Hasselbalch equations is an equation that often perform the

calculations required in preparation of buffers for use in the laboratory. It relates the
Ka of weak acid, HA and pH of a solution of weak acid. The Henderson-Hasselbalch
is derived from the acid dissociation constant equation: Ka = [H +][A-]/[NA], the
equation is rearranged to solve [H+] by definition, log 1/[H+]= pH and 1/Ka=pKa so
that by taking the log of the above equation, Henderson-Hasselbalch equation; pH
=pKa+log[A-]/[HA] as said by Segel (1968), buffers resist changes because they use
up excess hydrogen ions. In solution where there is both weak acid and its salt, and
some is added then the reaction occurs as A - + H- = HA, for a buffer to be good the
pH of the solution must be within one pH unit of the pKa.Steven et al,(2007)
AIM
Is to prepare acetate buffers and measure pH value before and after addition of
hydrochloric acid and compare it with the calculated pH from the Henderson-
Hasselbalch equation.
METHOD AND MATERIALS
The solution of sodium acetate(0.1M) and acetic acid(0.1M) were mixed together in a
beaker and the pH was recorded but this was done after the pH meter was
calibrated, the pH was calculated to what it should be on from the Henderson-
Hasselbalch equation. From the 2ml of 0.1 mol litres of hydrochloric acid were added
to each mixture of sodium acetate and acetic acid in a beaker using pipette and the
pH was measured by pH meter again and the value obtained was compared with
that obtained by calculations.
DISCUSSION
Before using any apparatus, it is necessary to clean it up first. This is to ensure that
the apparatus is free of contamination and that the results can be reliable. The pH
values that were calculated before addition of hydrochloric acid were higher than
those that were calculated after the addition of hydrochloric acid, meaning that they
were less acidic, thus having a higher pH and those that were calculated after the
addition of the acid were more acidic with less PH. A buffer is able to resist the
change in pH because the components are both present inappreciable amounts
at equilibrium and are able to neutralise small amounts of other acids and base when
are added to the solution. There is a little difference between the pH measured using
the pH meter and the pH calculated using Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. This
difference is brought about the human error, environmental conditions, too big
groups and inaccurate measurements. Buffers work best when the pka of the
conjugate weak acid is close to the desired working range of the buffer This turns out
to be the case when the concentration of the conjugate acid and conjugate base are
approximately equal. As we can see, over the working range of the buffer pH
changes very little with the addition of acid or base. Once the buffering capacity is
exceeded the rate of pH change quickly jumps. This occurs because the conjugate
acid or base has been depleted through neutralisation. This principle implies that
larger amount of conjugate acid or base will have greater buffering capacity. Tropp,
(1993).
CONCLUSION
The purpose of this lab, to use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation to determine

the amount of acetic acid and sodium acetate needed to prepare two acidic buffer
solutions was fulfilled. The results where then used to prepare and test the buffer
solutions and their buffering capacities by adding HCL. Sources of error in this lab
could have been caused if too much sodium acetate was added and if too much
acetic acid was added to the buffer solution. If too much of the solution was titrated
into the buffer solution could cause the results to become altered.
REFERENCE LIST
1. Boyer F.R (1986) Modern experiment in Biochemistry. 8th ed.

2. Bohinski R.C. (1998). Modern concepts in Biochemistry. 9th ed. Oxford
University.
3. Steven S. Zumdahl (2007). Chemistry. 7th ed. University of Ilion’s, U.S.A.
4. Sunberg et al. (2008). Chemical principles: The quest insight. 4th ed. New
York, U.S.A
5. Tropp A. (1993). Aqueous Acid-Base Equilibrium and titrations. New York:
Oxford University Press inc. 199

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TITLE

Preparation of acetate buffer.

A buffer solution is a solution that minimize changes in pH when small amounts of

The Henderson-Hasselbalch equations is an equation that often perform the

METHOD AND MATERIALS

The purpose of this lab, to use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation to determine

1. Boyer F.R (1986) Modern experiment in Biochemistry. 8th ed.

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