Question

A buffer solution is composed of 4.00 4.00 mol of acid and 3.25 3.25 mol of the conjugate base. If the p K a pKa of the acid is 4.70 4.70 , what is the pH of the buffer?

Answer 1

Answer: The pH of the buffer is 4.61

Explanation:

To calculate the pH of acidic buffer, we use the equation given by Henderson Hasselbalch:

$pH=pK_a+\log(\frac{[\text{conjuagate base}]}{[\text{acid}]})$

We are given:

$pK_a$ = negative logarithm of acid dissociation constant of weak acid = 4.70

$[\text{conjuagate base}]}$ = moles of conjugate base = 3.25 moles

$[\text{acid}]$  = Moles of acid = 4.00 moles

pH = ?

Putting values in above equation, we get:

$pH=4.70+\log(\frac{3.25}{4.00})\\\\pH=4.61$

Hence, the pH of the buffer is 4.61