Buffered

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Concept in chemistry and biology



A buffer is a solution that can resist pH change upon the addition of an acidic or basic components. It is able to neutralize small amounts of added acid or base, thus maintaining the pH of the solution relatively stable. This is important for processes and reactions which require specific and stable pH ranges.

Components of a Buffer[edit | edit source]

A typical buffer solution consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base and its conjugate acid. Common examples include:

Buffer Capacity[edit | edit source]

The buffer capacity is a measure of the efficiency of a buffer in resisting pH changes. It depends on the concentration of the acid and its conjugate base (or the base and its conjugate acid) in the buffer solution. The higher the concentration of these components, the greater the buffer capacity.

Applications[edit | edit source]

Buffers are widely used in various fields:

Common Buffer Systems[edit | edit source]

Some common buffer systems include:

Related Concepts[edit | edit source]

See Also[edit | edit source]

Chemistry icon li.svg
This article is a stub related to chemistry. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!


WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD