Question

Over what range of ph values would an acetic acid/acetate buffer be effective?

Answer 1

pKa of acetic acid is 4.74

To act as an effective buffer the concentration of salt should be not more than 10 times or less than 1/10 times the concentration of acid

pH = pKa + log₁₀(conc. of salt/conc. of acid)

So max and min value of log₁₀(conc. of salt/conc. of acid) is + 1 and - 1

max pH = pKa + 1 = 5.74

min pH = pKa - 1 = 3.74