---
title: "A student prepares two different aqueous buffer solutions at \\(25\\ ^\\circ\\text{C}\\), each with a total volume of \\(100\\text{ mL}\\).  | Buffer | \\([\\text{CH}_3\\text{COOH}]\\) | \\([\\text{CH}_3\\text{COONa}]\\) | | :— | :— | :— | | \\(\\text{X}\\) | \\(0.10\\text{ M}\\) | \\(0.10\\text{ M}\\) | | \\(\\text{Y}\\) | \\(0.50\\text{ M}\\) | \\(0.50\\text{ M}\\) |  Which buffer solution has a greater capacity to resist a change in \\(\\text{pH}\\) upon the addition of a small amount of a strong acid, and why?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119730/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:12:10+00:00"
---

# A student prepares two different aqueous buffer solutions at \(25\ ^\circ\text{C}\), each with a total volume of \(100\text{ mL}\).

| Buffer | \([\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}]\) | \([\text{CH}_3\text{COONa}]\) |
| :— | :— | :— |
| \(\text{X}\) | \(0.10\text{ M}\) | \(0.10\text{ M}\) |
| \(\text{Y}\) | \(0.50\text{ M}\) | \(0.50\text{ M}\) |

Which buffer solution has a greater capacity to resist a change in \(\text{pH}\) upon the addition of a small amount of a strong acid, and why?

A student prepares two different aqueous buffer solutions at \(25\ ^\circ\text{C}\), each with a total volume of \(100\text{ mL}\).

| Buffer | \([\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}]\) | \([\text{CH}_3\text{COONa}]\) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| \(\text{X}\) | \(0.10\text{ M}\) | \(0.10\text{ M}\) |
| \(\text{Y}\) | \(0.50\text{ M}\) | \(0.50\text{ M}\) |

Which buffer solution has a greater capacity to resist a change in \(\text{pH}\) upon the addition of a small amount of a strong acid, and why?

- **A.** Buffer \(\text{X}\), because a more dilute solution has a lower initial \(\text{pH}\) and requires more strong acid to lower the \(\text{pH}\) further.
- **B.** Buffer \(\text{Y}\), because it contains a greater number of moles of \(\text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-\) available to react with added \(\text{H}^+\) ions.
- **C.** Buffer \(\text{Y}\), because its higher concentration of \(\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}\) allows it to directly neutralize added \(\text{H}^+\) ions.
- **D.** Both buffers have the same capacity, because the molar ratio of \([\text{CH}_3\text{COO}^-]\) to \([\text{CH}_3\text{COOH}]\) is \(1.0\) in both solutions.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119730/*