Buffers are Substances That Help Resist Shifts in PH By

Question

Buffers are substances that help resist shifts in pH by
A) releasing H⁺ to a solution when acids are added.
B) donating H⁺ to a solution when bases are added.
C) releasing OH⁻ to a solution when bases are added.
D) accepting H⁺ from a solution when acids are added.
E) both donating H+ to a solution when bases are added, and accepting H+ when acids are added.

Accepted Answer

Buffers can both donate H+ ions to neutralize added bases and accept H+ ions to neutralize added acids, thus helping to resist changes in pH. Options A, B, and C only describe one part of a buffer's function, while option D describes the opposite action to that which also occurs in a buffer.