ACIDS, BASES AND BUFFERS

Dr. Bintang Simbolon, MSi

17/12/15

GOALS
Learning Objectives :
Learn about the relation between pH and acid solution
Learn about the relation between pK and acid
dissociation
Understand the definition and function of buffer
Understand that acid protein is affected by buffer
Understand that pI value causes neutral protein
Learning Outcome
Understand the protein in the body fluid for example Hb
can function as buffer

Introduction
Many compounds in the body contain chemical groups
that can act as acids or bases, releasing or accepting
protons. Therefore, they may carry a charge at
physiological pH. These compunds range from the small
molecules such as ATP to large polymers such as the
protein hemoglobin.
Most biochemical reactions occur in aqueous solution.
Water dissociates to a slight extent to form H + and OH-.
The concetration of hydrogen ions, [H +], determines the
acidity of the solution, which is usually expressed in
terms of pH. The pH of a solution is the negative log of
its hydrogen ion concentration (Fig. 4.1)

 An acid is a substance that can release hydrogen

ions (protons), whereas a base is a substance that
can accept hydrogen ions. In solution, almost all
the molecules of a strong acid dissociate, but only
a small number of the total molecules of a weak
acid dissociate. A weak acid has a characteristic
dissociation constant, Ka.
The relationship between pH, pKa, and the
concentrations of a weak acid and its conjugate
base is described by the Henderson-Hasselbalch
equation (Fig. 4.2)

 A buffer is a mixture of an undissociated acid

and its conjugate base that causes a solution
to resist changes in pH when either H + or OHare added. A buffer has its greatest buffering
capacity in the pH range near its pKa.
Because acids are produced in the course of
normal metabolism, the body must have
buffers that can maintain the pH in a range
compatible with life.

Water
Water is the solvent of life. About two thirds of our body
weight is water. With the exception of reactions that occur
in lipid membranes, the reactions of the body occur in an
aqueous medium. Because water molecules are polar, they
can interact with each other. Each of the 2 hydrogen atoms
in a water molecule shares its electrons with the unshared
electrons of the oxygen atom.
One water molecule to be attracted to another by means of
weak interactions known as hydrogen bonds (Fig. 4.3).
Water may also form hydrogen bonds with other
electronegative atoms (generally oxygen or nitrogen) (Fig.
4.4). Therefore, it is a solvent in which polar molecules can
readily dissolve.

[H+] for pure water is 1x10-7;

therefore the pH is 7.

History and Definitions

Your task is to research the history of
acids and bases.
Doing this you will need to find out
about Arrhenius, Bronsted & Lowry
and Lewis.
By the end of the lesson you will also
need to definitions of acids and
bases- with examples as equations.

Bronsted-Lowry
Bronsted-Lowry acids and bases
A Bronsted-Lowry acid is any substance
from which a proton can be removed
A Bronsted-Lowry base is any substance
that can remove a proton from an acid

A single proton doesnt really exist in

a solution. Acids only release protons
if a base can accept it.

Conjugate Acid-Base Pairs

Instead of a floating proton in
solution, water molecules accept
protons to form hydronium ions, H3O+
(aq)

This is sometimes called an oxonium

ion.

This is an
acid

Which one is the base and

conjugate acid between these
two?

This is a thing
that can accept
a proton, its the
acids conjugate
base

pH
pH is commonly expressed as
log[H+]
It approximates the negative log (base 10) of the molar concentrations
of hydrogen ions H+ (really hydronium ions H30+) in solution
So a solution of HCl with a pH of 2.0 has a concentration of hydronium
ions of 1x 10-2 (1/100!!)
Compared to a more dilute solution of HCl with a pH of 5.0, which has
a hydronium ions concentration of 1 x 10-5 (1/100,000).
pH is commonly expressed as log[H+]
Pure water has [H+]=10-7 and thus pH=7

Your Calculator

pH
pH is commonly expressed as
log[H+]
Pure water has [H+]=10-7 and thus
pH=7.
Acids have a high [H+] and thus a low
Bases contribute OH ions when they dissociate. These bind to the H+ ions
pH. when water dissociates. Thus, these OH ions suck up the H+
produced
ions in solution, reducing their concentration.
Bases have a low [H+] and thus a
NaOH with a pH of 12.0 contributes so many OH ions that almost all the H+
high
pH.
ions
are bound
into water molecules, reducing the free H+ (and hydronium)
ion concentration to 1 x 10-12 (1,000,000,000,000 = 1/trillion)

pH
Acid

Normality

pH

Acetic

2.4

Acetic

0.1 N

2.9

Acetic

0.01 N

3.4

Hydrochloric

0.1

Hydrochloric

0.1 N

1.1

Hydrochloric

0.01 N

2.0

Sulfuric

0.3

Sulfuric

0.1 N

1.2

Sulfuric

0.01 N

2.1

How do normality
and molarity relate
to pH??

Molarity is the fractions of a mole in solution; normality is a

measure of the concentration of reactive groups which may
affect pH.

Ways to measure pH
Indicator dyes and test strips
Less precise
Each indicator is only good for a small pH
range (1-2 pH units)
But may be good for field usage, or
measuring small volumes, or dealing with
noxious samples.

Ways to measure pH
pH meter
Electrode measures H+ concentration
Must standardize (calibrate) before using.

An acid-base pair is a set of two

species that transform into each
other by gain or loss of a proton

Why is pH important in
biology?
pH affects solubility of many substances.
[A]
(mol/L)

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

1010

Initial pH 0.00 1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

6.79

7.00

Final pH 6.75 7.25

7.75

8.14

8.25

8.26

8.26

8.26

8.27

Dissolve
d CaCO3
(g per 50.0 5.00
liter of
acid)

0.514

0.0849 0.0504 0.0474 0.0471 0.0470 0.0470

More calcium carbonate dissolves as pH drops

Why is pH important in
biology?
pH affects solubility of many substances.
pH affects structure and function of most
proteins - including enzymes.

Why is pH important in
biology?
pH affects solubility of many substances.
pH affects structure and function of most
proteins - including enzymes.
Many cells and organisms (esp. plants and
aquatic animals) can only survive in a specific
pH environment.
Important point pH is dependent upon temperature

ACIDS AND BASES

Acids are compounds that donate
protons to a solution, and bases are
compounds that accept protons. The
body produces a number of acids
during normal metabolism (Table 1).
Carbon dioxide, which is produced
during the oxidation of fuels, reacts
with water to form carbonic acid (Fig.
4.9)

 Table 1. Acids Produced by the Body

- Carbonic acid
- Sulfuric acid
- Phosphoric acid
- Lactic acid
- Citric acid
- Ammonium ions
- Ketone bodies
- Acetoacetic acid
- -Hydroxybutyric acid

Strong and Weak Acids

Strong Acids
Strong acids completely dissociate in
aqueous solution.
Only a few exist, the rest are weak.
HCl
-HI
HNO3
-HClO4
H2SO4
HBr

Weak Acids
Weak acids only partially dissociate
in aqueous solution, the equilibrium
lies well to the left.

Ka The Acid Dissociation

Constant
A weak acid has the following
equilbrium:
HA H+ + A The expression for the acid dissociation
constant is:
Ka =
Units are always:

Ka Context
A strong acid has a high Ka value.
A weak acid has a small Ka value.
Can also convert these into logs, which
makes the numbers more manageable.
pKa = -log10Ka
Ka = 10-pKa
Taking logs inverts the values. High pK a
is a weak acid and vice versa.

pH of Strong Acids
For a strong acid:
HA(aq)
H+(aq) + A-(aq)
HA totally dissociates: [HA] = [H+]
Use pH = -log[H+]

A bottle of HCl has a concentration of

1.22 x10-3 mol dm-3. What is the pH?

pH of Weak acids
For a weak acid:
HA(aq) H+(aq) + A-(aq)
HA only partially dissociates.
H+ and A- are formed equally. [H+]=[A-]
In our equation for Ka: [H+][A-] = [H+]2
Due to the small partial dissociation we can
assume that the equilibrium concentration
of HA is the same as the start
concentration. This gives us the equation:

pH of Weak Acids
Ka = [H+]2
[HA]
Or
[H+] = Ka x [HA]

Buffers
A buffer consists of a weak acid and its
conjugate base that cause a solution to resist
changes in pH when an acid or a base is
added (Fig. 4.13)
If hydrogen ions are added (via an acid), they
combine with the weak base. If hydrogen ions
are removed (by combining with a base that is
added to the solution), the weak acid
dissociates, replacing them. In either case, the
pH of the solution is returned toward its
original level.

 Two factors determine the effectiveness of a buffer: its pKa

relative to the pH of the solution and its concentration.
A buffer works best within 1 pH unit of its pKa.
Body fluids must be protected againts changes in pH
because most enxymes are very pH sensitive.
In the long run, excess acid or base is eliminated via the
kidneys and the lungs. In the short run, the body is
protected againts pH changes by buffering systems.
Two main buffers occur in the blood: the bicarbonate buffer
and a buffer involving the oxygencarrying protein
hemoglobin. These mechanisms normally act to maintain
blood pH between 7.37 and 7.43

Buffers
Definition: a solution that resists change in pH
Typically a mixture of the acid and base form of a
chemical
Can be adjusted to a particular pH value

Blood: pH = 7.37-7.45
Too acidic? Increase respiration rate expelling CO2, driving
reaction to the left and reducing H+ concentration.
Excretory system excrete more or less bicarbonate
pH below 7.4 in rats CaCO3 in BONE dissociates, carbonates soak
up extra H+ to buffer blood. But bones weakened

Buffers
Why use them?
Enzyme reactions and cell functions have optimum
pHs for performance
Important anytime the structure and/or activity of a
biological material must be maintained

How buffers work

Equilibrium between acid and base.
Example: Acetate buffer
CH3COOH CH3COO- + H+

If more H+ is added to this solution, it

simply shifts the equilibrium to the
left, absorbing H+, so the [H+]
remains unchanged.
If H+ is removed (e.g. by adding OH-)
then the equilibrium shifts to the
right, releasing H+ to keep the pH
constant

Limits to the working range of a

buffer
Consider the previous example:
CH3COOH CH3COO- + H+

If too much H+ is added, the

equilibrium is shifted all the way to
the left, and there is no longer any
more CH3COO- to absorb H+.
At that point the solution no longer
resists change in pH; it is useless as
a buffer.
A similar argument applies to the
upper end of the working range.

Contents
Basic Medical Biochemistry A
Clinical Approach by Dawn B. Marks,
PhD at all.
Biokimia Kedokteran Dasar Sebuah
Pendekatan Klinis oleh Dawn B.
Marks, PhD dkk terjemahan
Cetakan 2014

THE
END
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