Prev. Article Next Article Table of Contents

Article

Understanding, Deriving, and Computing Buffer Capacity

Citing Articles

Your current credentials do not allow retrieval of the full text.

Purchase the full-text

PDF/HTML,
figures/images,
references and tables,
(where available)

Edward T. Urbansky and Michael R. Schock

National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Water Supply and Water Resources Division, U.S. Envionmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268-0001

J. Chem. Educ., 2000, 77 (12), p 1640

DOI: 10.1021/ed077p1640

Publication Date (Web): December 1, 2000

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

The concept of buffer capacity appears in varied disciplines, including bio-, geo-, analytical, and environmental chemistry, physiology, medicine, dentistry, and agriculture. Unfortunately, however, derivation and systematic calculation of buffer capacity is a topic that seems to be neglected in the undergraduate analytical chemistry curriculum. In this work, we give an account of the development of the buffer capacity concept and derive the buffer capacity contribution equations for buffer systems containing mono-, di-, and triprotic weak acids (and their conjugate bases) and aluminum(III), which undergoes hydrolysis. A brief review of pH is provided because pH is involved in applying buffer capacity to the real world. In addition, we discuss evaluation of the equations, numerical approximation of buffer capacity when an analytic solution is not derived, and the mathematical properties of the buffer capacity expressions.

Keywords (Domain):

Analytical Chemistry

Keywords (Subject):

Acids / Bases

View: Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links

Citing Articles

Citation data is made available by participants in CrossRef's Cited-by Linking service. For a more comprehensive list of citations to this article, users are encouraged to perform a search in SciFinder.

This article has been cited by 3 ACS Journal articles (3 most recent appear below).

Analysis of Natural Buffer Systems and the Impact of Acid Rain. An Environmental Project for First-Year Chemistry Students
David C. Powers , Andrew T. Higgs , Matt L. Obley , Phyllis A. Leber , Kenneth R. Hess and Claude H. Yoder
Journal of Chemical Education2005 82 (2), 274
- Analysis of Natural Buffer Systems and the Impact of Acid Rain. An Environmental Project for First-Year Chemistry Students
  David C. Powers , Andrew T. Higgs , Matt L. Obley , Phyllis A. Leber , Kenneth R. Hess and Claude H. Yoder
  Journal of Chemical Education2005 82 (2), 274
  The purpose of this project is to investigate the basic principles involved in acid–base buffer systems within the context of an environmental issue. It is designed for use in an introductory chemistry course. The students will learn about acid–base ...
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
pH of Sodium Acetate Solutions
Guy Schmitz
Journal of Chemical Education2002 79 (1), 29
- pH of Sodium Acetate Solutions
  Guy Schmitz
  Journal of Chemical Education2002 79 (1), 29
  Example of buffering power in deviations of the pH of sodium acetate from calculated values.
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
The Fate of the Haloacetates in Drinking WaterChemical Kinetics in Aqueous Solution
Edward Todd Urbansky
Chemical Reviews2001 101 (11), 3233-3244
- The Fate of the Haloacetates in Drinking WaterChemical Kinetics in Aqueous Solution
  Edward Todd Urbansky
  Chemical Reviews2001 101 (11), 3233-3244
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF