Question
Is it possible to make a buffer with a strong acid and a strong base?
So I know a buffer consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid.
And I believe it is possible to make a buffer with a strong acid and weak base or a weak base and a strong acid?
So I know a buffer consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid.
And I believe it is possible to make a buffer with a strong acid and weak base or a weak base and a strong acid?
Answers
bobpursley
Is it possible to make a buffer with a strong acid and a strong base?
No
No
Bob Pursley is correct. I want to add some additional information here. A strong acid such as HCl or a strong base such as NaOH act as buffers by themselves. Not very good buffers but that solution IS buffered with just HCl. Look at the titration curve of a strong acid at this site. You see the pH at the beginning is very low and it changes very little over the next approx 24 mL (from pH about zero to pH about 1)
https://www.google.com/search?q=titration+curve+strong+acid+vs+strong+base&tbm=isch&imgil=FXrjZpK8cAsVqM%253A%253B4Pwg8afcyrusaM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.chemguide.co.uk%25252Fphysical%25252Facidbaseeqia%25252Fphcurves.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=FXrjZpK8cAsVqM%253A%252C4Pwg8afcyrusaM%252C_&usg=__8vO6IIuaL1Yokwr-U-mEvZgTh1w%3D&biw=1005&bih=624&ved=0ahUKEwi3rKG-2MvLAhWBNiYKHRCuCpcQyjcILg&ei=0LfsVreEG4HtmAGQ3Kq4CQ#imgrc=FXrjZpK8cAsVqM%3A
https://www.google.com/search?q=titration+curve+strong+acid+vs+strong+base&tbm=isch&imgil=FXrjZpK8cAsVqM%253A%253B4Pwg8afcyrusaM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.chemguide.co.uk%25252Fphysical%25252Facidbaseeqia%25252Fphcurves.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=FXrjZpK8cAsVqM%253A%252C4Pwg8afcyrusaM%252C_&usg=__8vO6IIuaL1Yokwr-U-mEvZgTh1w%3D&biw=1005&bih=624&ved=0ahUKEwi3rKG-2MvLAhWBNiYKHRCuCpcQyjcILg&ei=0LfsVreEG4HtmAGQ3Kq4CQ#imgrc=FXrjZpK8cAsVqM%3A
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