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Preparation and Testing of Buffers

Preparation and Testing of Buffers
Contributors
Professor | Bradley University
Beyond Benign, Inc.
Learning Objets
Summary
The purpose of this lab is to give students experience in the practical preparation of buffers and exploring buffer properties. Students will prepare aqueous solutions with specific concentrations of acids and bases, and use pH meters to examine the pH of these buffers. The buffer capacity of the prepared buffers will also be measured.

Featuring contributions from Tamara Fitzjarrald.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.59877/IPMU6605
Learning Goals/Student Objectives
In performing this experiment, a student will…
• Operate laboratory equipment such as balances, volumetric glassware, and pH meters
• Apply dilution and acid/base equilibrium calculations
• Consider the Principles of Green Chemistry in these experiments
Object Type
Laboratory experiment
Audience
High School (Secondary School)
Introductory Undergraduate
Green Chemistry Principles
Designing Safer Chemicals
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Good Health and Well-Being
Quality Education
Life Below Water
Safety Precautions, Hazards, and Risk Assessment
Chemicals and their CAS numbers.
Acetic acid 64-19-7
Sodium acetate 127-09-3
Hydrochloric acid 7647-01-0
Sodium hydroxide 1310-73-2
pH meter calibration buffers ?

Precautions, including proper personal protective equipment such as goggles and gloves, should be used when working with experiments. Always wash your hands after completing the experiments and demonstrations.
Teacher Recommendations or Piloting Data (if available)
We have run this lab for years in our Gen Chem 2 Lab courses.

Evaluation methods are mixed between the quality of written communication of the experimental summaries and plans, and successfully producing the buffer and calculating its buffer capacity. The Green Chemistry/toxicology question also serves as a writing prompt that can be evaluated.

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Published on
Moderation state
Published
Time required (if applicable)
One 3-hour lab session: likely less time.
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