A certain buffer is made by dissolving nahco3 and na2co3 in some water. write equations to show how this buffer neutralizes added h and oh.

- A buffer solution resists the change in pH after the addition of small amounts of acid or base to it.

- The given buffer solution is NaHCO₃ (acid) + Na₂CO₃ (conjugate base).

- NaHCO₃ contains HCO₃⁻ and Na⁺ ions. Na₂CO₃ contains Na⁺ and CO₃²⁻ ions. Na⁺ ions do not show any effect on the pH of a solution.

Therefore, HCO₃⁻ and CO₃²⁻ are responsible for the buffer action.

HCO₃⁻ is the acidic component of the buffer. It neutralizes the small amounts of base added to it producing an equivalent amount of the conjugate base CO₃²⁻.

HCO₃⁻ (aq) + OH⁻ (aq) → CO₃²⁻ (aq) + H₂O (l)

Acid conjugate base

CO₃²⁻ is the basic component if the buffer. It neutralizes the small amounts of acid added to it producing an equivalent amount of the conjugate acid HCO₃⁻

CO₃²⁻ (aq) + H₃O⁺ (aq) → HCO₃⁻ (aq) + H₂O (l)

Base Conjugate acid

- Therefore, even after the addition of a small amount of acid or base to the buffer, pH remains unchanged.