In buffer solutions, acid-base equilibrium is essential for maintaining a stable pH. The system is composed of weak acids and their conjugate bases. They can react with added acids or bases to minimize changes in pH.
In our buffer, HONH鈧 acts as a weak base and can accept additional protons (H鈦 ions) to become the conjugate acid HONH鈧冣伜. This equilibrium is expressed as:
- \(HONH_2 + H^+ \rightleftharpoons HONH_3^+\)
When extra H鈦 is introduced into the solution, the equilibrium shifts right. This means more HONH鈧冣伜 is created to neutralize the increase in acidity. Conversely, if OH鈦 ions are added, they react with H鈦 to form water, reducing H鈦 concentration and shifting equilibrium to the left.
Understanding this dynamic process helps in predicting how different components affect the pH of a solution.