1. What is Buffering Capacity?

Buffering capacity (β) is a quantitative measure of a solution's resistance to pH change when an acid or base is added. It indicates how much strong base must be added to change the pH by one unit.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the buffering capacity equation:

Where:

• \( \beta \) — Buffering capacity (mol/L per pH unit)
• \( dC_{\text{base}} \) — Change in base concentration (mol/L)
• \( dpH \) — Change in pH (dimensionless)

Explanation: The equation shows the relationship between the amount of base added and the resulting pH change.

3. Importance of Buffering Capacity

Details: Buffering capacity is crucial in biological systems, chemical processes, and industrial applications where maintaining stable pH is essential.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the change in base concentration in mol/L and the corresponding pH change. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What factors affect buffering capacity?
A: Concentration of the buffer components, temperature, and ionic strength all affect buffering capacity.

Q2: What are typical buffering capacity values?
A: Biological buffers typically have β values between 0.01-0.1 mol/L per pH unit. Blood has β ≈ 0.03 mol/L per pH unit.

Q3: How does buffering capacity vary with pH?
A: Buffering capacity is maximum at the pKa of the buffer system and decreases as pH moves away from the pKa.

Q4: Can this calculator be used for acid additions?
A: Yes, but remember the sign convention - acid additions would be negative changes in base concentration.

Q5: What's the relationship between buffer capacity and buffer range?
A: Buffer range is the pH range where the buffer is effective (typically pKa ± 1), while buffer capacity quantifies how effective it is within that range.