Question

how would you write equation to show how buffers H2CO3 and NaHCO3 behave when (a) HCl is added and (b) NaOH is added.

Answer 1

H2CO3 <---> H+ + HCO3-
NaHCO3 <---> Na+ + HCO3-

When acid is added in the buffer, the excess H+ of that acid reacts with HCO3- to form H2CO3, and due to this NaHCO3 dissociates into HCO3- to attain the equilibrium. and hence there is no net effect of H+ due to pH remain almost constant. when a base is added to the buffer, the OH- ion of base react eith H+ ion present in buffer, then to attain equilibrium of H+ ion, the H2CO3 dissociates to produce H+ ion, but now there is the excess of HCO3- due to which Na+ ion react with them to attain equilibrium of HCO3-. hence there is again no net change in H+ ion due to which pH remain constant.....