A mixture of NH4Cl and NH4OH shows no change in pH upon addition small...
A mixture of weak base and its salt with a strong acid serves as an basic buffer which resists changes in pH upon addition of small amount of acid or base.
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A mixture of NH4Cl and NH4OH shows no change in pH upon addition small...
Understanding the Buffer Solution
A mixture of NH4Cl (ammonium chloride) and NH4OH (ammonium hydroxide) acts as a buffer solution. Let's break down why this is the case.
What is a Buffer?
- A buffer solution is designed to resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added.
- It typically consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid.
Composition of the Mixture
- NH4OH is a weak base, which partially dissociates in water to release OH- ions.
- NH4Cl contains NH4+, which is the conjugate acid of NH4OH.
How It Works
- When HCl (a strong acid) is added to this mixture, it introduces H+ ions into the solution.
- The NH4OH can react with these H+ ions to form NH4+, thus minimizing the change in pH.
- At the same time, the NH4+ from NH4Cl can also react with OH- ions present to form water, further stabilizing the pH.
Conclusion
- The ability of this mixture to maintain its pH despite the addition of HCl is characteristic of a buffer.
- Therefore, the correct answer is that the mixture functions as a buffer solution (option B), effectively counteracting pH changes and maintaining a relatively stable environment.
This property is crucial in many biological and chemical processes, where maintaining a constant pH is essential for system stability.