What is the Difference Between pH and Buffer?

pH and buffer are related concepts in chemistry, but they have distinct differences:

• pH:
• pH is a logarithmic scale used to determine the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution.
• The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. Solutions with a pH less than 7 indicate acidic conditions, while solutions with a pH higher than 7 indicate basic conditions.
• pH can be measured using a pH meter or through experimental methods.
• Buffer:
• A buffer is an aqueous solution that contains a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or vice versa.
• Buffers resist changes in pH when small amounts of an acidic or basic substance are added to them.
• Buffer solutions are used in various applications, such as maintaining the correct pH for enzymatic activity, in fermentation processes, setting the correct conditions for dyes, and chemical analysis.
• Buffer capacity is measured using chemical analysis.

In summary, pH is a logarithmic scale that measures the acidity or basicity of a solution, while a buffer is a solution that resists changes in pH when small amounts of acidic or basic substances are added to it.

Comparative Table: pH vs Buffer

Here is a table highlighting the differences between pH and buffer:

In summary, pH is a scale that measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, while a buffer is a solution that maintains a constant pH when an external acid or base is added to it.