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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: tiff27 on April 30, 2004, 07:51:17 PM

Title: strong acids and bases as buffers
Post by: tiff27 on April 30, 2004, 07:51:17 PM

I am completely stuck on this question  ??? Why is the salt of a strong acid and a strong base not a good buffer?  I also am stuck on a balanced equation to represent this.  I got as much as a strong acid and its salt is completley ionized and to be a buffer needs a weak acid to react with any oh- that is added.  Am I correct so far?  Thanks for your time!

Title: Re:strong acids and bases as buffers
Post by: AWK on May 04, 2004, 01:55:32 AM

Buffer solutions work on the basis that strong acid (or base) replaces a weak one, or neutralizes weak base (or acid) with formation of salts (which hydrolysis can be neglected because of common ion present in buffer solution).

But in some cases HCl/NaCl can be used as buffer solution though its buffering strength is rather small.