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Related Concept Videos

Buffers02:56

Buffers

177.1K
A solution containing appreciable amounts of a weak conjugate acid-base pair is called a buffer solution, or a buffer. Buffer solutions resist a change in pH when small amounts of a strong acid or a strong base are added. A solution of acetic acid and sodium acetate is an example of a buffer that consists of a weak acid and its salt: CH3COOH (aq) + CH3COONa (aq). An example of a buffer that consists of a weak base and its salt is a solution of ammonia and ammonium chloride: NH3 (aq) + NH4Cl...
177.1K
Buffer Systems in the Body01:19

Buffer Systems in the Body

5.2K
Chemical buffers play a critical role in the body's regulation of pH levels. These systems contain one or more compounds that stabilize pH changes by neutralizing strong acids or bases. When pH levels drop, hydrogen ions bind to a weak base; when pH levels rise, hydrogen ions are released. This dynamic process helps maintain pH within a narrow and stable range essential for normal physiological function.
A typical buffer system in bodily fluids includes a weak acid and its corresponding...
5.2K
Buffers: Overview01:30

Buffers: Overview

10.9K
Buffers play a crucial role in stabilizing the pH of a solution by mitigating the effects of small amounts of added acid or base. They consist of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid. A solution of acetic acid and sodium acetate is an example of a buffer that consists of a weak acid and its salt: CH3COOH (aq) + CH3COONa (aq). An example of a buffer that consists of a weak base and its salt is a solution of ammonia and ammonium chloride: NH3 (aq) + NH4Cl (aq).
10.9K
Aqueous Solutions and Heats of Hydration02:42

Aqueous Solutions and Heats of Hydration

18.8K
Water and other polar molecules are attracted to ions. The electrostatic attraction between an ion and a molecule with a dipole is called an ion-dipole attraction. These attractions play an important role in the dissolution of ionic compounds in water.
When ionic compounds dissolve in water, the ions in the solid separate and disperse uniformly throughout the solution because water molecules surround and solvate the ions, reducing the strong electrostatic forces between them. This process...
18.8K
Buffer Effectiveness02:19

Buffer Effectiveness

58.0K
Buffer solutions do not have an unlimited capacity to keep the pH relatively constant . Instead, the ability of a buffer solution to resist changes in pH relies on the presence of appreciable amounts of its conjugate weak acid-base pair. When enough strong acid or base is added to substantially lower the concentration of either member of the buffer pair, the buffering action within the solution is compromised.
The buffer capacity is the amount of acid or base that can be added to a given volume...
58.0K
Protein Buffers in Blood Plasma and Cells01:20

Protein Buffers in Blood Plasma and Cells

4.4K
The human body utilizes protein buffer systems to maintain a stable pH. These systems capitalize on the dual role of amino acids, which can act as acids or bases by accepting or releasing hydrogen ions in response to pH changes. Protein buffer systems are particularly significant in the extracellular fluid (ECF) and intracellular fluid (ICF) of active cells, where structural and functional proteins provide substantial buffering capacity.
Certain amino acids can exist in a zwitterion state at a...
4.4K

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Merging Ion Concentration Polarization between Juxtaposed Ion Exchange Membranes to Block the Propagation of the Polarization Zone
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Buffering agents modify the hydration landscape at charged interfaces.

William Trewby1, Duncan Livesey1, Kislon Voïtchovsky1

  • 1Durham University, Stockton Road, DH1 3LE, UK. kislon.voitchovsky@durham.ac.uk.

Soft Matter
|February 4, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Buffering agents can alter soft interfaces, with MES and HEPES forming ordered layers on mica, ideal for high-resolution studies. Other buffers create amorphous layers, but salt can mitigate these effects.

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Area of Science:

  • Soft matter science
  • Surface chemistry
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Buffering agents are crucial for stabilizing pH in biological and soft matter research.
  • These agents can interact with charged surfaces, potentially altering interface structure and inducing protein aggregation.
  • A detailed molecular understanding of buffer-surface interactions is currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular-level effects of common buffering agents on the hydration layer of Muscovite mica.
  • To compare the behavior of five specific buffers: HEPES, MES, monosodium phosphate, SSC, and Tris.
  • To assess the impact of these buffers on biologically relevant interfaces, such as lipid bilayers.

Main Methods:

  • High-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to visualize buffer molecule arrangements on Muscovite mica.
  • Experiments were replicated on silica-supported lipid bilayers to confirm findings on biologically relevant systems.
  • Ellipsometry was used in conjunction with AFM to further characterize the interface modifications.

Main Results:

  • Buffer molecules formed cohesive aggregates on the mica surface.
  • SSC, Tris, and monosodium phosphate created disordered, amorphous layers.
  • MES and HEPES exhibited epitaxial ordering, aligning with the mica lattice, indicating suitability for high-resolution imaging.
  • Similar trends were observed on lipid bilayers, with salt mitigating buffer adsorption.

Conclusions:

  • The choice of buffer significantly impacts the structure of the hydration layer at interfaces.
  • MES and HEPES are recommended for applications requiring minimal interface disruption and high-resolution imaging.
  • Understanding these interactions is vital for controlling experimental conditions in soft matter and biological sciences.