Question

Question about buffers? Buffer capacity

Answer 1

Is buffer capacity the volume of acid/base you add, or the pH where it starts to change at?

Answer 2

Also, does the bufffer capacity have to be the same for acid and base? ie if the buffer capacity is 4 moles of HCl. wopuld it have to be 4 moles of naoh too?

Answer 3

buffer capacity is the ability to withstand rapid pH fluctuation. The greater the buffering capacity, the greater the quantity of acid or base which must be incorporated with a material to alter the pH
Conceptually, a buffer acts somewhat like a large sponge. As more acid is added, the ``sponge'' absorbs the acid without changing the pH much. The ``sponge's'' capacity is limited however; once the buffering capacity is used up, the pH changes more rapidly as acids are added.