Buffer Solutions
A buffer solution resists changes in pH when small amounts of acid or alkali are added. An acidic buffer solution is a mixture of a weak acid HA and its conjugate base A-. This gives such a large reservoir of HA and a large reservoir of A- ions that any small increase or decrease in HA or A- ions will be negligible.

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Key terms in this lesson
- conjugate base
- The species left after an acid has donated a proton.
More in Acids, Bases and Buffers
- Calculating the pH of a Strong Acid
- Calculating the pH of a Weak Acid
- The Ionic Product of Water Kw
- Calculating the pH of a Strong Base
- pH of a Buffer Solution
- Controlling the pH of Blood
- Titration Curves
- Acid-Base Indicators
All 15 lessons in Acids, Bases and Buffers · All OCR A-level Chemistry topics