What is Buffer solution?
{{Acids and Bases}} A '''buffer solution''' is chemical solution which resists change to its [[pH]] or acidity. It is a [[solution]] in water of a mixture of a [[weak acid]] or [[Base (chemistry)|base]] and its salt. The [[pH]] of the solution changes very little when a small amount of [[strong acid]] or base is added to it. Buffer solutions are used as a means of keeping pH at a nearly constant value in a wide variety of chemical applications. Many life forms have a relatively small pH range; an example of a buffer solution is [[blood]]. Buffer solutions may be of two types: acidic and basic. *Acidic : A solution of mixture of weak acid and a salt of this acid with a strong base. eg. CH3COOH+CH3COONa *Basic : A solution of a mixture of weak base and its salt with a strong acid . eg. NH4OH+NH4Cl If you add acid to the solution, the concentration of H+ ions will increase; to keep equilibrium a small number of ions will be combined (forming salt and reducing the concentration of H+ ion in the solution). If you add base the concentration of H+ ion will reduce (by consumption or combining) and so a small amount of salt will break into ions and maintain the pH. Buffer index is the number of moles of acid or base added to 1 litre of buffer solution to change its ph by 1 unit {{chem-stub}} {{Chemical solutions}} [[Category:Acids]]