Buffer Solution Formulas The following formulas produce buffers with pH values close to that indicated.

The weights give 0.1 M concentrations of each species, when diluted to 1.0 L, so that the [acid]:[conjugate base] ratio is unity. In most cases the pH will have to be adjusted using a pH meter and the dropwise addition of either 6 M HCl or 6M NaOH to one liter of solution. Training Course in Basic Water Analysis and Wastewater Analysis

Acid, formula and wt.or volume of standard reagent (mL) Phosphoric acid 85% H3PO4 6.8 mL Hydrochloric acid, HCl, 8.6 mL Citric acid, HOC(CH2CO2H)2CO2H, 19.2 g Methyl succinic acid, HO2CCH2CH2CO2H, 11.8 Acetic acid,CH3CO2H, glacial, 5.7 mL, or Acetic acid,CH3CO2H, dilute (36%), 15.9 mL Potassium hydrogen phthalate, KHC8H4O4, 20.4 g, Monosodium methylsuccinate, NaO2CCH2CH(CH3)CO2H, 15.3 g Monosodium citrate, HOC(CH2CO2H)2CO2Na, 21.4 g Disodium citrate, HOC(CH2CO2Na)2CO2H, 23.6 g Monopotassium phosphate, KH2PO4, 12.8 g

Conjugate base, formula and wt. Monopotassium phosphate, KH2PO4 12.8 g Potassium hydrogen phthalate, KHC8H4O4, 20.4 g monopotassium citrate, HOC(CH2CO2H)2CO2K, 23.0 g Monosodium methylsuccinate, HO2CCH2CH2CO2Na, 14.0 Sodium acetate,CH3CO2Na , 8.2 g

pH 2.1 2.8 3.1 4.1

4.75

sodium hydroxide, NaOH, 4.0 g Disodium methylsuccinate, NaO2CCH2CH(CH3)CO2Na, 17.5 g Disodium citrate, NaOC(CH2CO2H)2CO2Na, 23.6 g Trisodium citrate, HOC(CH2CO2Na)2CO2Na, 25.8 g Dipotassium phosphate, K2HPO4 15.8 g

4.8 5.6 5.9 6.4 7.2

DL-Cysteine, HSCH2CH(NH2)CO2H, 12.1 g Boric acid H2B4O7, 31.4 g Sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3, 8.4 g Monosodium tellurate, NaHTeO4, 21.6g Monosodium ascorbate, NaC6H7O6, 19.8g Dipotassium phosphate, K2HPO4 15.8 g Boric acid H2B4O7, 31.4 g

Sodium DL-Cysteinate, HSCH2CH(NH2)CO2Na, 14.3 g Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH, 4.0 g

8.1 9.1

Sodium carbonate, Na2CO3, 10.6 g Disodium tellurate, Na2TeO4, 23.8g Disodium ascorbate, Na2C6H7O6, 22.0g Tripotassium phosphate, K3PO4 19.6 g Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, 12.0 g

10.2 11.3 11.8 12.7

12.7

Phosphate Buffer Materials

monosodium phosphate disodium phosphate water phosphoric acid to make the pH more acidic or sodium hydroxide to make the pH more alkaline pH meter glassware hot plate with stirring bar

Prepare the Phosphate Buffer(H3PO4 (pKa) 2.148, 7.198, 12.375)

1. Decide on the concentration of the buffer. Most buffers are used at a concentration between 0.1 M and 10 M. If you make up a concentrated buffer solution, you can dilute it as needed. 2. Decide on the pH for your buffer. This pH should be within one pH unit from the pKa of the acid/conjugate base. So, you can prepare a buffer at pH 2 or pH 7, for example, but pH 9 would be pushing it. 3. Use the Henderson-Hasselbach equation to calculate how much acid and base you need. You can simplify the calculation if you make 1 liter of buffer. Select the pKa value that is closest to the pH of your buffer. For example, if you want the pH of your buffer to be 7, then use the pKa of 6.9:

pH = pKa + log ([Base]/[Acid]) ratio of [Base]/[Acid] = 1.096 The molarity of the buffer is the sum of the molarities of the acid and conjugate base or the sum of [Acid] + [Base]. For a 1 M buffer (selected to make the calculation easy), [Acid] + [Base] = 1 [Base] = 1 - [Acid] substitute this into the ratio and solve: [Base] = 0.523 moles/L Now solve for [Acid]. [Base] = 1 - [Acid] so [Acid] = 0.477 moles/L
4. Prepare the solution by mixing 0.477 moles of monosodium phosphate and 0.523 moles of disodium phosphate in a little less than a liter of water. 5. Check the pH using a pH meter and adjust the pH as necessary using phosphoric acid or sodium hydroxide. 6. Once you have reached the desired pH, add water to bring the total volume of phosphoric acid buffer to 1 L. 7. If you prepared this buffer as a stock solution, you can dilute it to make up buffers at other concentrations, such as 0.5 M or 0.1 M.