Acid or Base Buffers

A buffer is a solution that resists changes in pH. A buffer is made with a weak acid and a soluble salt containing the conjugate base of the weak acid or a weak base and a soluble salt containing the conjugate acid of the weak base. Some examples of buffer material pairs are:

acetic acid and sodium acetate, H(C₂H₃O₂) and Na(C₂H₃O₂)
hydrofluoric acid and potassium fluoride, HF and KF
carbonic acid and sodium bicarbonate, H₂CO₃ and NaHCO₃
ammonium hydroxide and ammonium nitrate, NH₄OH and NH₄NO₃
nitrous acid and lithium nitrite, HNO₂ and LiNO₂