Describe making a buffer and choosing the materials

Question

Describe how to make a buffer which will have the maximum ability to resist changes in pH when either reasonable amounts of strong acid or strong base are added. How would you choose the materials for such a buffer?

Answer 1

The first choice you'd want to make is a desired pH. This will ultimately determine which buffer you would use. You want to use a weak acid or weak base with a pKa near the desired pH.

Once you've chosen the weak acid or weak base, and the conjugate base or acid respectively, you would choose a concentration for the buffer. You would want equimolar concentrations of the two components so the pH would be at the pKa, and you'd want a concentration as high as possible within limits of solubility.