Abstract for Lecture #23 - All About Buffers


We start with a treatment of the acid - base buffers in which the water ionization is neglected. We use three equations in three unknowns, and derive an expression for the proton concentration in terms of Ka, initial acid concentration and initial base concentration. This results in a quadratic equation which can be solved on a TI-83 calculator.

A rigorous treatment of the acid - base buffers is given. We start with four equations in four unknowns, and derive an expression for the proton concentration in terms of Ka, initial acid concentration and initial base concentration. This results in a cubic equation which can be solved with the solver function on a TI-83 calculator.

To prepare for this lecture, please read sections 8.1 through 8.4 of Zumdahl.


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