What makes some buffers WEAK Why do certain substances such

What makes some buffers \"WEAK\"?

Why do certain substances, such as Gelatin, act as weak buffers, and can not resist pH change? Thank you!

Solution

A buffer is a weak acid or salt of an acid or a weak base or its salt. Buffers are used for balancing the hydrogen ion concentration by converting the strong acid and bases into weak acid and bases. Buffers resist the changes in pH and the change in pH is not observed by addition of small quantities of strong acid or base. The dissociation of H⁺ ions from acid result in conjugate base of the acid and addition of acid or base result in pH remain unchanged because buffers resist change in pH. This is because the acid and its conjugate base are in equilibrium in a buffer.

Some buffers are weak and cannot resist change in pH. This is because of disturbance in equilibrium between the acid and base. Gelatin is a weak buffer and it cannot resist change in pH and its consistency and other physical properties are changed or lost with change in pH.