Question

How to Prepare 500mL a 50 mM pH 6 Citrate buffer starting from citric acid as the sole source of conjugate base

I used the HH equation and got that citric acid concentration would be 0.035M, when converted to moles would be 3.362g. Then I was planning to add that amount to a beaker and add water (1/3 of what I need) and then add NaOH dropwise until I reach desired pH and then change fill the flask to 500mL mark. Am I right?

Answer 1

Preparing Buffer Solutions with a Specific pH Value
1. Calculate [A-]:[HA] ratio using Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation. pH = pKa + log10([A-]/[HA])
2. Ca. mole fraction of each component. Xi = ni/∑n
3. Ca. Molarity of each component. Mi = (MBuffer)(Xi)
4. Ca. moles of each component. ni = (Mi)(VBuffer)Liters
5. Ca. Stock Volume (Liters) of each component needed. (Vi)Liters = ni/Mi
6. Transfer each component into appropriate Volume Graduated Cylinder and dilute up to needed final volume.
Ratio => Xi => Mi => ni => Vi => Mix & Dilute

Example:
Using the Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation this is a two-component buffer system meaning that the weak acid and its conjugate base are added separately.

How would you prepare 10mL of a 0.01M phosphate buffer, pH 7.40, from stock solutions of 0.10M KH2PO4 and 0.25M K2HPO4? pKa of KH2PO4 = 7.20.

1. Use the Henderson Hasselbalch equation to find the ratio of A- to HA. pH = pKa + log [A- ] / [HA] 7.40 = 7.20 + log [A- ] / [HA] 0.20 = log [A- ] / [HA] 1.584893192 = [A- ] / [HA]* *Since [A- ] / [HA] = 1.584893192, we can say that [A- ] / [HA] = 1.584893192/ 1. In this case [A- ] = 1.584893192; [HA] = 1.

2. Calculate the decimal fraction (part/whole) of each buffer component. A- = 1.584893192 / (1.000 + 1.584893192) = 1.584893192 / 2.584893192= 0.61313682 HA = 1.000 / 2.584893192= 0.38686318

3. Find the molarity (M) of each component in the buffer by simply multiplying the molarity of the buffer by the decimal fraction of each component. MA- = 0.01M x 0.61313682 = 0.006131368M MHA = 0.01M x 0.38686318 = 0.003868632M

4. Calculate the moles of each component in the buffer. Moles = Molarity x Liters of buffer molesA- = 0.006131368M x 0.01L = 6.131 x 10-5 moles molesHA = 0.003868632M x 0.01L = 3.869 x 10-5 moles

5. Calculate the volume of each stock solution required to make the buffer Liters of stock = moles of the buffer component / Molarity of the stock LA- = 6.131 x 10-5 moles / 0.25 M = 2.452 x 10-4 L = 245µL LHA = 3.869 x 10-5 moles / 0.10 M = 3.869 x 10-4 L = 387µL

6. To prepare this buffer, one would use appropriately-sized pipets to measure and transfer each component to a 10mL volumetric flask and bring the solution to volume with DI-H2O.