Answer:
Use a ratio of 0.44 mol lactate to 1 mol of lactic acid  
Explanation:
John could prepare a lactate buffer.
He can use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation to find the acid/base ratio for the buffer.
![\text{pH} = \text{pK}_{\text{a}} + \log\dfrac{\text{[A$^{-}$]}}{\text{[HA]}}\\\\3.5 = 3.86 + \log\dfrac{\text{[A$^{-}$]}}{\text{[HA]}}\\\\\log\dfrac{\text{[A$^{-}$]}}{\text{[HA]}} = 3.5 - 3.86 = -0.36\\\\\dfrac{\text{[A$^{-}$]}}{\text{[HA]}} = 10^{-0.36} = \mathbf{0.44}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Ctext%7BpH%7D%20%3D%20%5Ctext%7BpK%7D_%7B%5Ctext%7Ba%7D%7D%20%2B%20%5Clog%5Cdfrac%7B%5Ctext%7B%5BA%24%5E%7B-%7D%24%5D%7D%7D%7B%5Ctext%7B%5BHA%5D%7D%7D%5C%5C%5C%5C3.5%20%3D%203.86%20%2B%20%5Clog%5Cdfrac%7B%5Ctext%7B%5BA%24%5E%7B-%7D%24%5D%7D%7D%7B%5Ctext%7B%5BHA%5D%7D%7D%5C%5C%5C%5C%5Clog%5Cdfrac%7B%5Ctext%7B%5BA%24%5E%7B-%7D%24%5D%7D%7D%7B%5Ctext%7B%5BHA%5D%7D%7D%20%3D%203.5%20-%203.86%20%3D%20-0.36%5C%5C%5C%5C%5Cdfrac%7B%5Ctext%7B%5BA%24%5E%7B-%7D%24%5D%7D%7D%7B%5Ctext%7B%5BHA%5D%7D%7D%20%3D%2010%5E%7B-0.36%7D%20%3D%20%5Cmathbf%7B0.44%7D)
He should use a ratio of 0.44 mol lactate to 1 mol of lactic acid.
For example, he could mix equal volumes of 0.044 mol·L⁻¹ lactate and 0.1 mol·L⁻¹ lactic acid.
 
        
             
        
        
        
To find the Percent Composition of an atom, you use this formula:
Mass of element in the compound you're studying on ( in this case it's 5 since there is 5 Hydrogens) over the mass of the compound (which is here 79), Multiplied by 100 since you want a percent. 
So we get: 

So you get about: 


So, the percent composition of Hydrogen in NH4HCO3 is 6.3%
Hope this Helps! :D
 
        
        
        
The mass of an atom and the equivalent of to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom