---
title: "A student prepares two acetate buffer mixtures at \\(25^\\circ\\text{C}\\). Each mixture has a volume of \\(50.0\\text{ mL}\\). The student adds \\(2.00\\text{ mL}\\) of \\(0.100\\text{ M}\\) \\(\\text{NaOH(aq)}\\) to each mixture and records the data shown below.  | Mixture | Initial \\([\\text{CH}_3\\text{COOH}]\\) | Initial \\([\\text{CH}_3\\text{COO}^-]\\) | Initial pH | pH after addition | |———|—————————————-|—————————————–|————|——————-| | 1 | \\(0.100\\text{ M}\\) | \\(0.100\\text{ M}\\) | \\(4.74\\) | \\(4.78\\) | | 2 | \\(0.0100\\text{ M}\\) | \\(0.0100\\text{ M}\\) | \\(4.74\\) | \\(5.11\\) |  Which statement correctly compares the buffer capacities and explains the results?"
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date_modified: "2026-08-19T12:40:32+00:00"
---

# A student prepares two acetate buffer mixtures at \(25^\circ\text{C}\). Each mixture has a volume of \(50.0\text{ mL}\). The student adds \(2.00\text{ mL}\) of \(0.100\text{ M}\) \(\text{NaOH(aq)}\) to each mixture and records the data shown below.

| Mixture | Initial \([\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}]\) | Initial \([\text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-]\) | Initial pH | pH after addition |
|———|—————————————-|—————————————–|————|——————-|
| 1 | \(0.100\text{ M}\) | \(0.100\text{ M}\) | \(4.74\) | \(4.78\) |
| 2 | \(0.0100\text{ M}\) | \(0.0100\text{ M}\) | \(4.74\) | \(5.11\) |

Which statement correctly compares the buffer capacities and explains the results?

A student prepares two acetate buffer mixtures at \(25^\circ\text{C}\). Each mixture has a volume of \(50.0\text{ mL}\). The student adds \(2.00\text{ mL}\) of \(0.100\text{ M}\) \(\text{NaOH(aq)}\) to each mixture and records the data shown below.

| Mixture | Initial \([\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}]\) | Initial \([\text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-]\) | Initial pH | pH after addition |
|---------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|------------|-------------------|
| 1 | \(0.100\text{ M}\) | \(0.100\text{ M}\) | \(4.74\) | \(4.78\) |
| 2 | \(0.0100\text{ M}\) | \(0.0100\text{ M}\) | \(4.74\) | \(5.11\) |

Which statement correctly compares the buffer capacities and explains the results?

- **A.** Mixture 1 has the greater buffer capacity because its tenfold higher \([\text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-]\) makes the ratio \([\text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-]/[\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}]\) ten times larger than that of mixture 2.
- **B.** Mixture 1 has the greater buffer capacity because both mixtures initially have the same \([\text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-]/[\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}]\) ratio, but mixture 1 contains larger amounts of both components, so the added base causes a smaller fractional change in composition.
- **C.** Mixture 2 has the greater buffer capacity because its larger increase in pH indicates that it neutralized a larger amount of the added base.
- **D.** The mixtures have the same buffer capacity because their identical initial pH values indicate that they can neutralize equal amounts of added base.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119460/*