Making Buffers

Overview:
In this lab, two different buffer solutions will be made by mixing acetic acid (a weak acid) and
sodium acetate (its conjugate base). You will then add HCl and NaOH to these buffers to see
how their pH is affected.

Background:
Buffers are chemical systems comprised of a weak acid and its conjugate base. Both
components of the buffer are important and are most effective when they are present in
significant and in nearly equal amounts. The purpose of a buffer is to maintain the pH of a
system when small amounts of strong acid or base are added.

When making a buffer, selection of the weak acid/conjugate base is very important. The pKa of
the weak acid should be within ± 1 unit of the desired pH. Buffers typically are most effective
over a narrow pH range, usually 1-2 pH units.

For example, suppose you want to make a buffer with pH of 9.25 and the only options you
have available are shown in Table 1. Which of the compounds should you choose?

Table 1. Acids available to make a buffer.

Name Formula pKa
Nitrous Acid HNO2 3.34
Hypochlorous acid HClO 7.46
+
Ammonium NH4 9.24
-
Hydrogen Carbonate Ion HCO3 10.33

You would use ammonium, as its pKa value is within plus or minus 1 of the desired pH (9.25).
Ammonium would make a good buffer from approximately 8.24 to 10.24.

When a strong acid or base is added to a buffer, the pH of the buffer will change. If an acid is
added, the pH should decrease; while if a base is added, the pH should increase. How
drastically the pH will change depends on the concentration of the weak acid and base in
solution. The buffer capacity is the amount of acid or base that can be added to a given
volume of a buffer solution before the pH changes significantly, usually by one unit. The
higher the concentrations of weak acid and weak base in solution, the greater the buffering
capacity.

To calculate the pH of a buffer, you will use the Henderson-Hasselbach equation (Figure 1).
This equation will also be used to determine the amount of an acid a buffer will need to
achieve a predetermined pH, which you will do in the second part of this lab simulation.
Experimental Procedure:
Link to simulation: http://www.chemcollective.org/vlab/104

Part I Overview:
For the first buffer, you will mix equal part of the acetic acid (the weak acid) and sodium
acetate (the conjugate base) to create 100.00 mL of buffer. You will then divide the buffer you
created into two parts (50.00 mL each). To one part of the buffer you will add HCl (a strong
acid) to see how the pH is affected. To the other part of the buffer you will add NaOH (a
strong base) to see how the pH is affected. (Figure 2)

Figure 2. Overview of Part I buffer experiment.

Detailed Procedure (Buffer 1)
1. To get started, select the “Solutions” tab and add 1M NaCH3COO (1M Sodium Acetate) and
1M CH3COOH (1M Acetic Acid) to your benchtop. (After you add the first solution, you will
have to click on the “Stockroom” tab again to add the second solution. Another note, you
will likely have to scroll down to find 1M CH3COOH).
2. You will now add a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask to your benchtop. This is the flask that will be
used to make our first buffer. To add the 250 mL Erlenmeyer, select the “Glassware” tab,
then select “Erlenmeyers,” then select 250 mL Flask.
3. You will now make your buffer by adding 50.00 mL of 1M NaCH3COO and 50.00 mL of
CH3COOH to the empty 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. To pour the solution, simply drag the
desired Erlenmeyer (containing the solution) to the empty flask. A pop up will appear, be
sure the “Precise” tab is selected and then type 50.00 into the textbox and select “Pour.”
You should now see solution in the originally empty flask and if you click on it, information
about that solution will be shown on the left side of your screen. Write down the pH of the
solution as “Part I Buffer: Orig. pH” in Table 2: Data Table.

4. Remove the 1M NaCH3COO and 1M CH3COOH from your benchtop by right clicking on the
flasks and clicking “Remove.”
5. You will now split the 100.00 mL buffer you created into two parts. To do this, add another
empty 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask to your benchtop (using the same procedure you did in
step 2).
6. Pour 50.00 mL of your buffer into the empty flask, by dragging your buffer to the empty
flask. A pop up will appear, be sure the “Precise” tab is selected and then type 50.00 into
the textbox and select “Pour.” Both of the flasks on your benchtop should now contain
50.000 mL of solution and the make up of those solutions should be identical. Write down
the pH of for each of these solutions as “Part I-A: Orig. pH” and “Part I-B: Orig. pH” in Table
2: Data Table.
7. We will now add 10M HCl and 10M NaOH to our benchtop. To do this, select “Stockroom”
and “Solutions.” Then select the indicated solutions. TIP: Be sure you select the 10M HCl
 and 10M NaOH – there are 1M solutions available as well.

8. You will now add 1.00 mL of 10M HCl to one part of your buffer (Part I – A: pH after 1 mL
10M HCl). You will then add 1.00 mL of 10 M NaOH to the other part of your buffer (Part I
– B: pH after 1mL 10 M NaOH). Write down the final pH for each of these solutions in the
Data Table.
9. Clear your lab bench by selecting “Edit” and clicking on “Clear Workbench.” You have now
finished Part I of this lab!

Part II Overview:
In the second half of this lab, you will make an acetic acid buffer with a pH of 5.03. You will
start by adding 50 mL of 1M NaCH3COO (the conjugate base) to the flask and then you will
determine how much 1M acetic acid and water must be added to yield 100.00 mL of buffer
with a pH of 5.03. After you’ve made your buffer with a pH of 5.03, you will divide your buffer
into two parts (50.00 mL each - just like you did with the Part I buffer). To one part of the
buffer you will add HCl (a strong acid) to see how the pH is affected. To the other part of the
buffer you will add NaOH (a strong base) to see how the pH is affected. (Figure 3)
 Figure 3. Overview of Part II buffer experiment.

Detailed Procedure (Buffer 2)

1. Before you can start the Part II simulation, you must determine how many mL of 1M
CH3COOH and water must be added to 50.00 mL of 1M NaCH3COO to achieve a pH of 5.03.
Question 4 (Steps 1-5) on the Lab Questions page, will guide you through this calculation.
 2. To get started, click on the “Solutions” tab and add 1M NaCH3COO (1M Sodium Acetate),
1M CH3COOH (1M Acetic Acid), and H2O (water) to your benchtop.
3. You will now add a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask to your benchtop. This is the flask that will be
used to make our buffer. To add the 250 mL Erlenmeyer, select the “Glassware” tab, then
select “Erlenmeyers,” then select 250 mL Flask.

4. You will now make your buffer by adding 50.00 mL of 1M NaCH3COO, the amount of
CH3COOH you calculated, and enough water to make the total volume of the buffer 100 mL.
Write down the pH of the solution as “Part II Buffer: Orig. pH” in Table 2: Data Table.
*At this point, the pH of your solution should be close to 5.03. As long as its between 5.01 and
5.05, it’s okay. If it’s not within the indicated range, you need to go back to your calculations
and try again.
5. Remove the 1M NaCH3COO, 1M CH3COOH, and H2O from your benchtop by right clicking on
the flasks and clicking “Remove.”
6. You will now split the 100.00 mL buffer you created into two parts. To do this, add another
empty 250 mL Erlenmeyesr flask to your benchtop (using the same procedure you did in
step 2).
7. Pour 50.00 mL of your buffer into the empty flask, by dragging your buffer to the empty
flask. A pop up will appear, be sure the “Precise” tab is selected and then type 50.00 into
the textbox and select “Pour.” Both of the flasks on your benchtop should now contain
50.000 mL of solution and the make up of those solutions should be identical.
8. You will now add 10M HCl and 10M NaOH to your benchtop. To do this, select “Stockroom”
and “Solutions.” Then select the indicated solutions. TIP: Be sure you select the 10M HCl
 and 10M NaOH – there are 1M solutions available as well.

9. You will now add 1.00 mL of 10M HCl to one part of your buffer (Part II – A: pH after 1mL 10
M HCl). You will then add 1.00 mL of 10 M NaOH to the other part of your buffer (Part II –
B: pH after 1mL 10 M NaOH). Write down the final pH for each of these solutions in Table 2:
Data Table.
10. Clear your lab bench by selecting “Edit” and clicking on “Clear Workbench.” You have now
finished this lab simulation!
 Table 2. Data Table (16 points)

Water pH after 1
1M CH3COOH 1M NaCH3COO pH after 1 mL
(additional) (in Orig. pH mL 10M
(in mL) (in mL) 10M HCl
mL) NaOH

Part I Buffer 50.00 50.00 0.00

Part I - A 25.00 25.00 0.00

Part I - B 25.00 25.00 0.00

Part II Buffer 50.00

Part II - A 25.00

Part II - B 25.00
Lab Questions: (15 points)

1. Calculate the original pH of the Part I Buffer, made of 50.00 mL of 1M CH3COOH and
50.00 mL of 1M NaCH3COO. The Ka for acetic acid is 1.8 x 10-5. Please show your work.
(2 point)

2. Calculate the pH of the Part I-A Buffer, after 1.00 mL of 10M HCl has been added. The Ka
for acetic acid is 1.8 x 10-5. (2 point)
Outlined steps:
• First calculate the number of moles of CH3COOH and NaCH3COO in solution.
Remember that this solution is made of 25.00 mL of 1M CH3COOH and 25.00 mL
of 1M NaCH3COO.
• Calculate the number of moles of HCl being added (1.00 mL of 10M HCl).
• Add the moles of HCl to the moles of acid and subtract the moles of HCl from the
moles of base.
• Using the final number of moles of acetic acid and sodium acetate in the buffer,
calculate the final pH using the Henderson Hasselbach equation.
3. Calculate the pH of the Part I-B Buffer, after 1.00 mL of 10M NaOH has been added. The
Ka for acetic acid is 1.8 x 10-5. (2 point)
Outlined steps:
• First calculate the number of moles of CH3COOH and NaCH3COO in solution.
Remember that this solution is made of 25.00 mL of 1M CH3COOH and 25.00 mL
of 1M NaCH3COO.
• Calculate the number of moles of NaOH being added (1.00 mL of 10M NaOH).
• Add the moles of NaOH to the moles of base and subtract the moles of NaOH
from the moles of acid.
• Using the final number of moles of acetic acid and sodium acetate in the buffer,
calculate the final pH using the Henderson Hasselbach equation.
4. The Part II Buffer is supposed to have a pH of 5.03 and have a volume of 100.0 mL. You
must add 50.00 mL of 1M NaCH3COO (sodium acetate). How many mL of 1M CH3COOH
(acetic acid) and H2O must you add, so that Buffer II has a pH of 5.03 and a total volume
of 100.00 mL? The Ka for acetic acid is 1.8 x 10-5.

Step 1: Determine the pKa value for acetic acid. (1 point)

Step 2: Normally in the Henderson Hasselbach equation, we use the concentration of

the acid and base. For the sake of simplicity, we are not going to change the
concentration of our acetic acid solution. Our stockroom has a solution of 1M
CH3COOH, so that is what we will use. Therefore, we will use the number of moles of
sodium acetate and acetic acid in our Henderson Hasselbach equation to make it easier
for us (Don’t worry, I’ll help you). First, calculate the number of moles in 50.00 mL of
1M NaCH3COO. (1 point)

Step 3: Now that you have the pKa value of acetic acid (Step 1) and the number of
moles of base in our buffer (Step 2), we can calculate the number of moles of CH3COOH
(acetic acid) that we must add to our buffer to get a pH of 5.03. (Henderson Hasselbach
equation in Figure 1) (1 point)
 Step 4: You can now determine how many mL of 1M CH3COOH you must add, by doing
a conversion (1000 mL in 1 L) and using the molarity of your acetic acid solution. (1
point)

Step 5: You can now calculate how much water to add by subtracting the volume of
sodium acetate you are adding (50.00mL) and acetic acid (answer from Step 4) from
100.00 mL. (1 point)

5. Calculate the pH of the Part II-A Buffer, after 1.00 mL of 10M HCl has been added. The
Ka for acetic acid is 1.8 x 10-5. (2 point)
Outlined steps:
• First calculate the _____ mL of 1M CH3COOH and 25.00 mL of 1M NaCH3COO
(the amount of water doesn’t effect your calculations).
• Calculate the number of moles of HCl being added (1.00 mL of 10M HCl).
• Add the moles of HCl to the moles of acid and subtract the moles of HCl from the
moles of base.
• Using the final number of moles of acetic acid and sodium acetate in the buffer,
calculate the final pH using the Henderson Hasselbach equation.
6. Calculate the pH of the Part I-B Buffer, after 1.00 mL of 10M NaOH has been added. The
Ka for acetic acid is 1.8 x 10-5. (2 point)
Outlined steps:
• First calculate the number of moles of CH3COOH and NaCH3COO in solution.
Remember that this solution is made of 25.00 mL of 1M CH3COOH and 25.00 mL
of 1M NaCH3COO.
• Calculate the number of moles of NaOH being added (1.00 mL of 10M NaOH).
• Add the moles of NaOH to the moles of base and subtract the moles of NaOH
from the moles of acid.
• Using the final number of moles of acetic acid and sodium acetate in the buffer,
calculate the final pH using the Henderson Hasselbach equation.