How do you write the chemical equation for the acetate buffer equilibrium [same for both buffers]?

Dec 27, 2016

See below.

Explanation:

An acid buffer is a solution that contains roughly the same concentrations of a weak acid and its conjugate base.

Thus, an acetate buffer contains roughly equal concentrations of acetic acid and acetate ion.

They are in a chemical equilibrium with each other.

The equation is:

underbrace("CH"_3"COOH")_color(red)("acetic acid") + "H"_2"O" ⇌ underbrace("CH"_3"COO"^"-")_color(red)("acetate ion") + "H"_3"O"^"+"