Review of Related Literature

Buffers are solutions composed of weak acids and conjugate bases, allowing the biological
system to remain at an optimum pH level. The pH level is hardly changed even when an acid is added
since the conjugate base of the buffer would react to form a weak acid. The characteristics of a buffer
must follow the traits: 1.) Soluble in water but not soluble to organic solvents. 2.) The buffer should not
be able to pass through the cell membrane, doing so would affect the cell behavior. 3.) It should also be
stable throughout its experimental process. 4.) Buffers must not be toxic nor absorb ultraviolet rays. 5.)
Lastly, the altering ability of the buffer should not be affected by ionic composition and temperature.

They pH of the buffers can chosen and calculated by utilizing the Henderson-Hasselbalch
equation.

pH = pKa+ log [HA]

[A-]

Denoted by the figure above, it can be observed that there are four variables taken from the equation.
The [HA] being the weak acid and the [A-] the conjugate base. pH refers to the acidity and basicity of the
buffer, and the pKa is the dissociation constant. The equation originated independently by the American
biological chemist L. J. Henderson and the Swedish physiologist K. A. Hasselbalch. The Henderson-
Hasselbalch equation gives an approximation of the acidity and basicity of the solution, ionized and
unionized fraction of the molecule, and calculates the pKa of the molecule. Generally, the equation is
used for buffer calculations, but can be applied to other fields such as chemistry, biochemistry, and
pharmacy.

Buffers are important to regulate acids and bases within the body or outside in practice of the
laboratory

https://sciencing.com/biological-buffers-8350868.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/henderson-hasselbalch-equation

http://www.chembuddy.com/?left=pH-calculation&right=pH-buffers-henderson-hasselbalch