Lesson Plan

Lesson: Buffer Solutions

Aim :

To study buffer solutions and their uses.

Learning Outcomes :

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to :

1. define a buffer solution.

2. state the general composition of an acidic buffer solution and a basic

buffer solution.

3. explain how a buffer solution works.

4. calculate the pH of a buffer solution.

5. state the importance of buffer solutions in biological systems.

Assumed prior knowledge :

Students should already be familiar with :

1. the concept of strong and weak acids and bases.

2. chemical equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s principle.

3. the concept of pH.

Underlying Principles

1. Making the invisible, visible.

2. Enabling students to know what to look for.

Time taken to complete the activities : 80 minutes

Differentiation

Questions in the student notes are designed to enable all students to complete the activity.
The pop-up answers are provided for the students to view when they have considered their
responses. Worksheet questions include questions that require recall, understanding and
application of the new concepts learned.

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 1 of 5

Development of Lesson :

No. Steps Strategy Resources

1 Set Induction. Teacher to quiz students to ensure that

(Ascertaining prior they have the necessary background
knowledge and knowledge.
introducing lesson
topic for the day).

2 Student Activity Teacher to go through Activities 1 - 4 with • Courseware

the students.

• Activity 1 : Buffer solutions

Students get to view the effect of adding a

small amount of acid or base to a buffer
solution.

• Activity 2 : How buffer solutions work

Students get to view how an acidic and a
buffer solution maintain its pH when a
small amount of an acid or a base is
added.

• Activity 3 : Calculating pH of buffer

solutions

Students are taught how to calculate the

pH of a buffer solution.

• Activity 4 : Uses of buffer solutions

Students are shown an example of a

buffer system in the human blood
system.

3 Evaluation • Students to answer questions in the • Worksheet

student worksheet on their own.

4 Extension activity • Students to go through the extension • Websites

activities on their own. • Reference
books.

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 5

Worksheet answers

2. How buffer solutions work

2.1 a. Ethanoic acid dissociates partially in water.

CH3COOH(aq) CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq)

Sodium ethanoate dissociates fully in water.

CH3COONa(aq) CH3COO-(aq) + Na+(aq)

When a little acid is added, the additional H+ ions are removed by the
CH3COO- ions present to form CH3COOH.
H+(aq) + CH3COO-(aq) CH3COOH(aq)

The sodium ethanoate ensures that there is a large reservoir of CH3COO-

ions to remove all the additional H+ ions. Hence the change in pH is
negligible.

b. When a little alkali is added, the additional OH- ions are removed by the H+
ions present to form water.
OH-(aq) + H+(aq) H2O(l)

The CH3COOH dissociates further to produce enough H+ ions to remove all

the additional OH- ions. Hence the change in pH is negligible.

3. Calculating pH of buffer solutions

3.1

pH

equivalence point
buffer zone

12.50 25.00 Volume of NaOH/cm3

pH = 14 – 5.05
= 8.95

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 5

3.2 a. C5H5N + H2O C5H5NH+ + OH-

Let, x = [C5H5NH+] = [OH-]

[C5H5N] = 0.10 – x 0.10

[C 5H5 NH + ][H + ]
Kb =
[C 5H5 N]

= x2 = 1.52 X 10-9 ,
0.10

x = [OH-] = 1.2 X 10-5 mol dm-3

pOH = 4.91

pH = 14 - 4.91 = 9.09

b. The addition of C5H5NH+ ions will shift the equilibrium to the left, decreasing
the OH- concentration and the pH.

c. Let, y = [OH-]

[C5H5NH+] = 0.15 + y

[C5H5N] = 0.10 – y

[C5H5NH+ ] [OH- ]
Kb =
[C5H5N]
(0.15)y
=
(0.10 )
= 1.52 X 10-9

y = [OH-] = 1.01 X 10-9 mol dm-3

pOH = 8.99

pH = 5.01

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 4 of 5

4. Uses of buffer solutions

4.1 CO2 + H2O H+ + HCO3- (1)

-
When a small amount of acid is added, the additional H+ ions will react with HCO3
ions to form carbonic acid, which decomposes to form carbon dioxide.
-
H+ + HCO3 H2CO3
H2CO3 CO2 + H2O
-
When a small amount of base is added, the OH- ions react with CO2 to form HCO3
ions. Hence the equilibrium position in equation (1) shifts to the left.
-
OH + CO2 HCO3-

© 2003 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 5 of 5