What is the effect of adding a strong acid to a buffer solution?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the effect of adding a strong acid to a buffer solution?
pH increases
pH decreases significantly
pH remains relatively constant
pH becomes neutral
A buffer solution is designed to resist changes in pH, so adding a strong acid will cause only a small change in pH.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the effect of adding a strong acid to a buffer solution?
Solution: A buffer solution is designed to resist changes in pH, so adding a strong acid will cause only a small change in pH.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand what a buffer solution is. A buffer solution is a mixture that can maintain a stable pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.
Step 2: Know what a strong acid is. A strong acid is a substance that completely dissociates in water, releasing a lot of hydrogen ions (H+).
Step 3: When you add a strong acid to a buffer, the buffer will react with the added hydrogen ions.
Step 4: The buffer contains weak acids and their conjugate bases, which help neutralize the added hydrogen ions.
Step 5: Because of this reaction, the pH of the buffer solution will change, but only slightly.
Step 6: The buffer's ability to resist pH changes is what makes it effective, so the overall effect is a small change in pH.
