calculate the instateneous and the practical buffer capacity in the acid and alkaline direction of 0.01M phosphate buffer, pH 6.8

Question

calculate the instateneous and the practical buffer capacity in the acid and alkaline  direction of 0.01M phosphate buffer, pH 6.8

aaronq · Answer

it's asking you to find how much acid or base you can add to the buffer specified before the pH changes drastically.

aaronq · Answer

I would use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation:

              $pH=pKa+log\dfrac{[A^-]}{[HA]}$

anonymous · Answer

how can i calculate the practical buffer capacity

aaronq · Answer

buffer capacity:  $\beta = 2.303 \dfrac{[HA][A^-]}{[HA] + [A^-]}$

aaronq · Answer

not sure what they mean by "practical"