PPolySim OS

Buffer Solution

Blood, oceans, and cells all rely on buffers to hold pH steady. See how a weak-acid buffer shrugs off added acid that would wreck pure water.

Buffer Solution (Henderson–Hasselbalch)Live

Controls

Presets

A buffer is a weak acid plus its conjugate base. Its pH follows Henderson–Hasselbalch, pH = pKa + log([base]/[acid]). Add strong acid and the buffer neutralizes most of it, so the pH barely moves — unlike pure water. Educational tool.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Buffer pH4.76
Same acid, no buffer7.0
pH change resisted2.2 units

Governing equation

Reading this result: Base and acid are near equimolar (ratio 1), so pH sits right at pKa where buffering capacity peaks — the added acid moves it only 2.2 pH units instead of crashing the solution.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

or unlock everything with Pro →
★ Sign in to save this setup
Save your tuned setup, or drop this simulation into your own site, docs, or course page.

How it works

A buffer pairs a weak acid with its conjugate base, giving pH = pKa + log([base]/[acid]) (Henderson–Hasselbalch). When strong acid is added, the base component neutralizes it, so the pH barely shifts — the resistance that keeps biological systems alive. Educational tool.

✦

Ask the AI about this model

The math, the assumptions, real-world uses, or a code translation — explained for this exact simulation.

More Chemistry simulations

Frequently asked questions

Is this henderson hasselbalch calculator tool really free?▾
Yes. Buffer Solution runs entirely in your browser using your device's own compute, so local use is free forever. You only pay Compute Tokens if you scale a job to the cloud.
Do I need to install anything?▾
No. Everything runs client-side in a modern browser — no downloads, no license, no account required to start.
Can I save or share my simulation?▾
Create a free account to save projects, and use a shareable embed or minted DOI to publish a live, interactive version anywhere.
How accurate are the results?▾
The solver uses established numerical methods, but results are for research and educational purposes and should be validated against experiment or professional review before you rely on them.