A few questions concerning buffers.?

Question

1.) Define buffer in terms of its components.

2.)Write an equation for the reaction of H+ with a solution containing both HCO3- and CO3 2-.

3.) Write an equation for the reaction of OH- with a solution containing both HCO3- and CO3 2-.

4.) Is the solution of NaHCO3 and Na2CO3 a buffer solution? Explain using chemical equations.

These questions are for a Pre-lab. I was absent from school last week and need to finish this so I can do the lab tomorrow. Thanks for the answers.

Answer 1

piss off!

Answer 2

1) A buffer contains both components of an acid-base conjugate pair.

For 2 & 3 they are acid base reactions. You can figure this out from what you learned before last week since there is no way your class covered acids and bases and moved on to buffers in 3 days (last week was a holiday)

4) Yes, it is a buffer. Bicarbonate and Carbonate are an acid-base conjugate pair. Now write out the balanced equations!

Answer 3

H+ + (HCO3)- ---> H2O + CO2 (or H2CO3)
H+ + (CO3)2- ---> (HCO3)-

OH- only reacts with (HCO3)-:

OH- + (HCO3)- ----> (CO3)2- + H2O

The solution is a buffer solution because it contains a weak acid (HCO3)- and its conjugate base (CO3)2-.