What is a buffer? What is the significance of buffers to cells or living things?

Question

If you could answer as simply as possible that would great. thanks :)

Answer 1

Buffers are used to regulate pH in living things. Since living things are water-based, they need to keep a constant pH to make their enzymes perform at the proper level.

I attached a link to a really good description of why and how this happens

Answer 2

Buffer solution, in chemistry, stabilizes the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of a liquid.

Buffer solutions are solutions which resist change in hydronium ion and the hydroxide ion concentration (and consequent pH) upon addition of small amounts of acid or base, or upon dilution.

Buffer solutions consist of a weak acid and its conjugate base (more common) or a weak base and its conjugate acid (less common).

The resistive action is the result of the equilibrium between the weak acid (HA) and its conjugate base (A-).Their resistance to changes in pH makes buffer solutions very useful for chemical manufacturing and essential for many biochemical processes.

Buffer solutions are necessary to keep the right pH for enzymes in many organisms to work. A lot of enzymes work only under very precise conditions; if the pH strays too far out of the margin, the enzymes slow or stop working and can denature, thus permanently disabling its catalytic activity.

A buffer of carbonic acid (H2CO3) and bicarbonate (HCO3-) is present in blood plasma, to maintain a pH between 7.35 and 7.45.

Answer 3

buffer is a solution which resist the change in its pH value upon addition of small amount of acid or base or upon dilution.
Eg., blood, cell sap etc.,

buffers are very important in maintaining the constant pH value during the biochemical reactions, that occur inside the cell, blood etc.,

The biochemical reactions catalysed by enzymes are very sensitive to the changes in pH. Hence a constant pH must be maintained, which is facilitated by buffer nature of cell sap, blood.

Answer 4

a buffer is a system where a weak acid or base is combined with its conjugate base or acid. it keeps the pH of the system pretty constant if only a little bit of a strong acid or base is added to it. it's significant to living things because if you dont have it, the pH can vary widely and the organism will die fairly quickly.