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A strong acid and a strong base will react together to produce a neutral salt. E.g., HCl (strong acid) and NaOH (strong base) will react together to form H20 and NaCl (salt). The salt is neutral (if you dump table salt into water, the solution will be neutral) this is because the Na+ and Cl- are perfectly happy being charged atoms.

If you have something that doesn't really like to be ionized, which is a weak acid or base (for example acetic acid, (vinegar) which is only 1.1% ionized (charged) in a water solution) will only be ionized if something forces it to be ionized, i.e., a strong acid or base. When there is a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate salt (or weak base and its conjugate salt) a buffer is formed. This is due to the fact that if you add some strong acid it will simply react with the conjugate salt, and if you add some strong base it will react with the weak acid. This is how they "buffer solutions" by keeping things pretty balanced.

So to answer your question, a buffer must contain something that is only weakly reactive, and can react further when the need is present. A strong acid/base will totally react, so there is nothing left over to do any buffering.

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What is the substance that neutralizes small amounts of acid or bases added to a solution?

Acids are added to neutralize base and inverse; a buffer only stabilizes the pH.


IS NaC2H3o2 and HCH3O2 a buffer in water?

Yes, NaC2H3O2 and HC2H3O2 is a buffer system when dissolved in water. Sodium acetate (NaC2H3O2) acts as a base, while acetic acid (HC2H3O2) acts as an acid. This buffer system can help maintain the pH of the solution when small amounts of acid or base are added.


How do you determine if a unknown is a buffer or not?

To determine if a solution is a buffer, check if it contains a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base and its conjugate acid. Alternatively, you can test the solution's pH - buffers resist significant changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.


Why is H3PO3 a buffer?

H3PO3 is a buffer because it consists of a weak acid (phosphorous acid, H3PO3) and its conjugate base (hydrogen phosphite ion, H2PO3^-). This allows it to resist large changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added by maintaining the equilibrium between the acid and its conjugate base.


Will the pH of a buffer solution be higher or lower than the pH of a weak acid?

The pH of a buffer solution will be more stable and resist changes compared to the pH of a weak acid alone. This is because a buffer solution is a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base that can neutralize added acids or bases. The pH of a buffer solution will not change significantly even when small amounts of acids or bases are added.

Related Questions

Is buffer solution an acid or a base?

A buffer solution contains a weak acid and its conjugate base, which helps resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added. Therefore, a buffer solution contains both acid and base components.


What is a substance that resists a pH change when small amounts of acid or base are added?

A buffer solution is a substance that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added. Buffers are typically composed of a weak acid and its conjugate base (or a weak base and its conjugate acid) that can neutralize added acid or base without drastic changes in pH.


How do you prepare a buffer solution?

To prepare a buffer solution, mix a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid in a specific ratio. This helps maintain a stable pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.


What is the substance that neutralizes small amounts of acid or bases added to a solution?

Acids are added to neutralize base and inverse; a buffer only stabilizes the pH.


How can I create a buffer solution effectively?

To create a buffer solution effectively, mix a weak acid and its conjugate base in a specific ratio. This will help maintain a stable pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.


How do you make a buffer solution?

To make a buffer solution, mix a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid in a specific ratio. This helps maintain a stable pH level when small amounts of acid or base are added.


How can one determine a buffer solution?

A buffer solution can be determined by mixing a weak acid with its conjugate base, or a weak base with its conjugate acid. This combination helps maintain a stable pH level when small amounts of acid or base are added.


IS NaC2H3o2 and HCH3O2 a buffer in water?

Yes, NaC2H3O2 and HC2H3O2 is a buffer system when dissolved in water. Sodium acetate (NaC2H3O2) acts as a base, while acetic acid (HC2H3O2) acts as an acid. This buffer system can help maintain the pH of the solution when small amounts of acid or base are added.


Solution made from a weak acid and its conjugate base that neutralizes small amounts of acids or bases added to it?

Acetic acid, CH3COOH, and Sodium Acetate, (CH3COOH-)(Na+).


How do you determine if a unknown is a buffer or not?

To determine if a solution is a buffer, check if it contains a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base and its conjugate acid. Alternatively, you can test the solution's pH - buffers resist significant changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.


Why is H3PO3 a buffer?

H3PO3 is a buffer because it consists of a weak acid (phosphorous acid, H3PO3) and its conjugate base (hydrogen phosphite ion, H2PO3^-). This allows it to resist large changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added by maintaining the equilibrium between the acid and its conjugate base.


Why buffer resist change in PH when small amount of acid or base is added?

Buffers resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added because they contain a weak acid and its conjugate base (or a weak base and its conjugate acid). This allows them to neutralize small amounts of added acid or base through a reversible reaction, helping maintain a relatively constant pH.