Buffers and the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation

1. Calculate the pH of the following 3 solutions.

a. A 0.250 M solution of HF (Ka = 7.1 x 10-4)
b. A 0.500 M solution of NaF (Kb = ?)
c. A buffer that contains both 0.250 M HF and 0.500 M NaF

2. The Ka for HF is 7.1 x 10-4 so its pKa = ________________.

a. Mix 10.0 mL of 0.500 M HF with 10.0 mL of 0.500 M NaF. pH = ______________.

b. Mix 1.00 mL of 0.500 M HF with 10.0 mL of 0.500 M NaF. pH = ______________.

c. Mix 10.0 mL of 0.500 M HF mixed with 1.00 mL of 0.500 M NaF. pH = ______________.

[F ]
d. A mixture of HF and NaF has a pH of 1.15. ____________.
[HF]

3. Use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation to calculate the ratio of HCO3- to H2CO3 (Ka = 4.2 x 10-7)
in normal blood (which has a pH = 7.40).

4. Unlike the carbonate buffer used in blood, buffers used in a lab are usually prepared with a nearly 1:1
ratio of the acid and base. Circle the conjugate acid-base pair that you would choose to prepare a
buffer solution that has a pH of 4.50.

a. HClO and ClO- b. C6H5COOH and C6H5COO- c. HPO42- and PO43-

(Ka = 3.5 x 10-8) (Ka = 6.3 x 10-5) (Ka = 3.6 x 10-13)

Explain your choice:

5. A buffers job is to prevent large pH changes upon the addition of small amounts of either strong
acid or strong base. As long as the buffer capacity is not exceeded, any added strong acid or strong
base will be neutralized by the buffer components. Lets look at this process quantitatively.

a. What is the pH of a buffer made by mixing 10 mL of 0.40 M sodium dihydrogen phosphate

with 10 mL of 0.40 M sodium hydrogen phosphate?
i. use the following information:
ii. pKas: H3PO4 H2PO4-= 2.2; H2PO4-HPO4-2= 6.8; HPO4-2PO4-3= 12.4