Buffer

ketonelover

Do buffers only work in acidic conditions (<7pH) or can they also operate in alkaline conditions (>7pH)?

Reply 1

TSR2015

Buffers only work in Acidic conditions due to their ability to "mop" up excess protons.

Reply 2

victoria1235

Original post by ketonelover

Do buffers only work in acidic conditions (<7pH) or can they also operate in alkaline conditions (>7pH)?

It depends on whether it is a weak base or weak acid buffer. To answer your question, buffers can work in both acidic and basic condition depending on the solutions that they are made up of. For example, if you are titrating a base in a conical flask against an acid from a burrette, you will have a weak base buffer in the conical flask first provided that the base is a weak one and the acid is a strong one. The reverse is true for weak acid buffer. Hope that helps buddy :smile: