Question

Which of the following can be used as a buffer solution?

• A. A solution containing NaCl and NaOH.
• B. A solution containing NaCl and NH₄OH.
• C. A solution containing sodium acetate.
• D. A solution containing ammonium acetate.

Answer 1

The correct option is D

A solution containing ammonium acetate.

A buffer solution is a solution which resists any change in its pH value on dilution or an addition of solution of an acid or alkali. The process by which added $H^{+}$ or $O{H}^{-}$ ions are removed so that pH remains constant is known as buffer action.

Types of buffers

1. Simple buffers: (a) A salt of weak acid and weak base in water, e.g., $C{H}_{3}COON{H}_4$, $N{H}_{4}CN$

(b) Proteins and amino acids

. (c) A mixture of an acid salt and normal salt of a polybasic acid, e.g., $N{a}_{2}HP{O}_4+N{a}_{3}P{O}_4$

Ammonium acetate contains strong conjugate cation and strong conjugate anion. Hence, its solution can be used as a buffer solution.