Question

Buffers are sometimes called “chemical sponges”. Explain why?

Explain why some solutions have buffering capacity and others do not.

The lungs and kidneys contribute to pH regulation. Why do you think these are important, when buffer systems minimize pH fluctuations in body fluids?

Answer 1

Buffers maintains the pH or homeostasis of any biological system. They helps to maintain a stable pH in the biological system .

They act like chemical sponges by removing hydrogen ion and absorbing hydrogen ions to maintain constant pH

2. solutions containing buffering agents to maintain pH can only act as buffers and not the other solutions . Only solutions that contains week acid/base and conjugate base/ acid can act as buffer. Other solutions without buffering agents cannot work as buffering solutions

3. Both lung and kidney are excretory organs. Lungs regulates blood pH by releasing corbon di oxide and absorbing oxygen. By releasing corbon di oxide it neutralize the blood pH to 7 from acidic pH. Kidney reduce or increase acid secretion to maintains the pH regulation in body fluids