If the buffer pair is to function properly, there must be 10 times more NaHCO₃ than there is H₂CO₃.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For a buffer to function properly, the concentrations of the acid and its conjugate base (or base and its conjugate acid) do not need to have a specific ratio like 10:1. Effective buffering occurs when the ratio is anywhere between 10:1 and 1:10, maintaining a pH close to the pKa of the acid/base pair.

If the Buffer Pair Is to Function Properly, There Must