Introduction

We often encounter acid and base in our daily life. Like fruits, beverages and household
cleaning agents. [[4]Bettelheim, F.A., & Landesberg, S.M. (2010). Laboratory Experiments for
Introduction to General, Organic, and Biochemistry. (7th ed.). USA: Brooks/Cole. Pages 207-
210.] according to 1923 definition of Thomas M. Lowry of England and Johannes N.
Bronsted of Denmark, acid release protons in their reactions whereas bases substances
which accepts protons. [[1]Cecil, J.R. (1995). Basic Biochemical Laboratory Procedures and
Computing with Principles, Review Questions, Worked Examples, and Spread sheet
Solutions. (1st ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. Pages 40-65.] Strong acids release
protons readily and almost completely in dilute aqueous solutions but weak acids do not so
that, at equilibrium, in most cases, less than 1% of a weak acid is ionized to yield protons.
Strong bases have a great capacity for accepting protons whereas weak bases are poor
acceptors of protons.

Since weak acids dissociate only to a small extent in dilute aqueous solution, the
concentration of H+ in dilute solutions of these acids is small. Frequently, the concentration
of hydrogen ions in solutions of weak acids is less than 10-6 mol/L. It can be somewhat
inconvenient mathematically to work with values of this small magnitude. To permit easier
handling of such low values of [H+], the Danish chemist S.P.L. Sorensen proposed in 1909
that [H+] be expressed logarithmically as follows:

pH = -log10H+

The pH of solutions is important in the biomedical sciences for two main reasons. First,
the proper functioning of biomolecules depends to an important degree on the control of
pH. Second, changes as small as 0.1 or 0.2 pH unit can cause significant metabolic
disturbances in certain cells, tissues, and organs. Because of the pH sensitivity of many
biomolecules, control of pH also is important for the success of several procedures used in
the biomedical laboratory. These include the separation, purification, and assay for
biological activity of several biomolecules.

There are certain solutions that resist change in pH even when we add to them acids or
bases. Such systems are called buffers. [4] Buffers resist changes in pH because of the Le
Chatelier Principle governing equilibrium conditions. [4] Buffers contain relatively high
concentrations of weak acids or bases and their conjugate partners which are generally
present as salts of the weak acid or base. [1]

Because pH is dependent on ionic activity, a property which cannot be measured easily or

fully predicted theoretically, it is difficult to determine an accurate value for the pH of the
solution. The pH reading of a solution is usually obtained using a pH meter or pH indicator
paper/liquid. The experiment was done due to the following objectives: (1) to prepare
different buffer solutions (2) to determine the pH of the buffers and samples
colorimetrically using different liquid indicators and electrometrically using the pH
meter and (3) to calculate the buffer capacity of there prepared buffer solution.