Question

What is the role of buffers?

Answer 1

Hint : Buffer is an amazing solution added to our many useful reactions to maintain the desired pH for that reaction to proceed smoothly. Buffers does not allow the change in the pH by the addition of a small amount of acid or base.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
To understand the buffer and its role completely, let’s start with its definition.
So, buffers are the solution of a mixture of weak acid and its conjugate base or the mixture of weak base and conjugate acid. Buffers resist the change in pH or have little change in pH in addition of acid or base, thus maintaining the integrity of the reaction.
Like, if we add a little amount of acid or ${H^ + }$ ions, then the buffer will neutralize this acid and keep on maintaining the desired ph.
Every buffer has its own capacity or range to maintain its integrity, this means that every buffer has its capacity to absorb acid or base before it starts changing the pH.
Buffers are very useful in industries to carry out various processes and in laboratories, it is an important part to run out many chemical reactions, like Gel electrophoresis, SDS page, etc.

Note :
Buffers are of two types – acidic buffer and alkaline buffer. So, basically acidic buffer is a mixture of weak acid and its conjugate base, e.g. – mixture of acetic acid and sodium acetate. A
And the alkaline buffer is a mixture of weak base and conjugate acid, e.g. – ammonium hydroxide and ammonium chloride.