Despite its low pKa (6.1) it forms the most important physiological buffer system in the body: Relatively high concentrations of bicarbonate in blood Forms an ‘open buffer system’ (see above): Carbonic anhydrase rapidly converts carbonic acid into...
Type Open Buffer System Closed Buffer System Description A system that can have the amount of chemical at one (or both) ends adjusted by physiological means. A system in which neither member of the buffer pair can escape from the system by equilibrating with the...
Can be classified based on their location: Interstial Fluid Blood Intercellular Fluid Urine Bone BicarbonatePhosphates BicarbonateHaemoglobinPlasma protein Cell proteinsPhosphates PhosphateAmmonia Mineral phosphates &...
Capacity describes the number of grams of strong acid or alkali which is necessary for a change in pH of one unit of one litre of buffer solution Determined by: Actual concentrations of salt and acid present Ratio of salt and...
A titration curve is a visual representation of a buffers effective range Plots the pH of the solution against the volume of titrant added Has a striking sigmoidal shape: In the linear portion, around the buffer’s pH, large changes in H+ result in only small...
