🔬Biological Chemistry I Unit 2 – Water, pH, and Buffers

Key Concepts

• Water's unique properties arise from its polar nature and hydrogen bonding capabilities
  • Polarity results from uneven distribution of electrons between hydrogen and oxygen atoms
  • Hydrogen bonding occurs between partially positive hydrogen and partially negative oxygen of neighboring water molecules
• pH is a logarithmic scale that measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution
  • Calculated as the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration: $pH = -log[H+]$
  • pH values range from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, below 7 acidic, and above 7 basic
• Acids are proton donors that increase the concentration of H+ ions in a solution
  • Strong acids (hydrochloric acid) dissociate completely in water
  • Weak acids (acetic acid) only partially dissociate in water
• Bases are proton acceptors that decrease the concentration of H+ ions in a solution
  • Strong bases (sodium hydroxide) dissociate completely in water
  • Weak bases (ammonia) only partially dissociate in water
• Buffer systems resist changes in pH when small amounts of acid or base are added
  • Consist of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base and its conjugate acid
  • Important in maintaining stable pH in biological systems (blood, cytoplasm)

Water's Unique Properties

• High specific heat capacity enables water to absorb and release heat slowly
  • Helps regulate temperature in living organisms and Earth's climate
• Strong cohesive and adhesive forces due to hydrogen bonding
  • Cohesion allows water to maintain column strength in xylem vessels of plants
  • Adhesion enables capillary action, which is crucial for water transport in plants and soil
• High surface tension resulting from cohesive forces among water molecules
  • Allows some insects (water striders) to walk on water's surface
• Universal solvent capabilities due to polarity and ability to form hydrogen bonds
  • Dissolves a wide range of polar and ionic compounds (salts, sugars, proteins)
  • Essential for transport of nutrients and waste products in living organisms
• Density anomaly: water is most dense at 4°C and less dense as a solid (ice)
  • Ice floats on liquid water, insulating aquatic life in cold climates

pH Basics

• pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of a solution
  • Acidic solutions have a pH below 7 and a higher concentration of H+ ions
  • Basic solutions have a pH above 7 and a lower concentration of H+ ions
  • Neutral solutions have a pH of 7 and equal concentrations of H+ and OH- ions
• The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning each unit change represents a tenfold difference in H+ concentration
  • A solution with pH 5 has 10 times more H+ ions than a solution with pH 6
  • A solution with pH 9 has 100 times fewer H+ ions than a solution with pH 7
• The concentration of H+ and OH- ions in a solution are inversely related
  • In pure water at 25°C, $[H+][OH-] = 1.0 \times 10^{-14}$ (the ion product constant of water, Kw)
  • As [H+] increases, [OH-] decreases proportionally to maintain Kw

Acids and Bases

• Arrhenius definition: acids produce H+ ions in solution, while bases produce OH- ions
  • Limited to aqueous solutions and does not explain all acid-base behaviors
• Brønsted-Lowry definition: acids are proton donors, while bases are proton acceptors
  • Accounts for acid-base reactions in both aqueous and non-aqueous solutions
  • Conjugate acid-base pairs differ by a single proton (H+)
• Lewis definition: acids are electron pair acceptors, while bases are electron pair donors
  • Broadest definition, encompassing both Arrhenius and Brønsted-Lowry concepts
  • Explains the basicity of compounds without OH- ions (ammonia)
• Acid and base strength depend on the extent of dissociation in solution
  • Strong acids and bases dissociate completely (hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide)
  • Weak acids and bases only partially dissociate (acetic acid, ammonia)
• The acid dissociation constant (Ka) quantifies the strength of an acid
  • Higher Ka values indicate stronger acids and more complete dissociation

Buffer Systems

• Buffers minimize pH changes when small amounts of acid or base are added to a solution
  • Consist of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base and its conjugate acid
  • The weak acid or base component neutralizes added base or acid, respectively
• The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation relates pH, pKa, and the ratio of base to acid concentrations in a buffer system:

$pH = pK_a + log\frac{[base]}{[acid]}$

• Buffer capacity is the amount of acid or base that can be added before the pH changes significantly
  • Determined by the concentrations of the buffer components and the pKa of the acid or base
  • Buffers are most effective when the pH is within ±1 unit of the pKa
• Preparing a buffer with a specific pH involves selecting an acid-base pair with a pKa close to the desired pH
  • The ratio of base to acid concentrations is adjusted according to the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation
• Common biological buffers include bicarbonate (HCO3-/CO2) and phosphate (H2PO4-/HPO4-2) systems
  • Bicarbonate buffer helps maintain blood pH around 7.4
  • Phosphate buffer helps maintain intracellular pH around 7.2

Biological Importance

• Maintaining stable pH is crucial for proper functioning of biological systems
  • Enzymes have optimal pH ranges for activity; deviations can lead to loss of function
  • Protein structure and solubility are sensitive to pH changes
  • Membrane potential and ion transport are affected by pH gradients
• Blood pH is tightly regulated between 7.35 and 7.45 by buffer systems, respiratory control, and renal control
  • Bicarbonate buffer is the primary blood buffer, with hemoglobin and plasma proteins also contributing
  • Respiratory control adjusts blood pH by regulating CO2 levels through breathing rate
  • Renal control adjusts blood pH by excreting excess H+ or HCO3- ions in urine
• Cellular compartments have specific pH ranges optimized for their functions
  • Cytoplasm: pH 7.2, favorable for most enzymatic reactions
  • Lysosomes: pH 4.5-5.0, optimal for acid hydrolase enzymes involved in digestion
  • Mitochondrial matrix: pH 7.8, supports efficient ATP synthesis during oxidative phosphorylation
• pH gradients across membranes are harnessed for energy production and transport processes
  • Proton motive force drives ATP synthesis in mitochondria and chloroplasts
  • pH gradients facilitate secondary active transport of nutrients (glucose, amino acids) into cells

Lab Techniques and Measurements

• pH meters measure the electrical potential difference between a reference electrode and a glass electrode in a solution
  • The potential difference is proportional to the pH of the solution
  • Calibration with standard buffer solutions (pH 4, 7, 10) is necessary for accurate measurements
• pH paper and indicators change color depending on the pH of the solution
  • Litmus paper turns red in acidic solutions and blue in basic solutions
  • Universal indicator displays a range of colors corresponding to pH values from 0 to 14
  • Specific indicators (phenolphthalein, methyl orange) have distinct color changes at certain pH ranges
• Titration is used to determine the concentration of an acid or base in a solution
  • A known concentration of base or acid (titrant) is gradually added to the unknown solution (analyte)
  • The endpoint is reached when the pH of the analyte changes abruptly, often indicated by a color change
  • The concentration of the analyte is calculated based on the volume and concentration of the titrant added
• Spectrophotometric methods can measure pH-dependent changes in absorbance
  • Some compounds (phenol red) exhibit different colors and absorbance spectra at different pH values
  • The ratio of absorbance at two wavelengths can be used to calculate the pH of a solution

Real-World Applications

• Environmental monitoring: pH measurements assess the health of aquatic ecosystems and soil quality
  • Acidification of lakes and streams due to acid rain can harm aquatic life
  • Soil pH affects nutrient availability and plant growth; lime is used to raise pH in acidic soils
• Food and beverage industry: pH control ensures product safety, quality, and shelf life
  • Low pH in fermented foods (yogurt, pickles) prevents the growth of spoilage bacteria
  • Adjusting pH during cheese making influences texture and flavor development
• Pharmaceutical industry: pH considerations are crucial in drug formulation and delivery
  • Drug solubility and absorption are pH-dependent; oral medications often have pH-sensitive coatings
  • Buffer systems maintain the stability and efficacy of liquid medications
• Wastewater treatment: pH adjustment is necessary for effective removal of contaminants
  • Alkaline conditions (pH 10-11) promote the precipitation of heavy metals
  • Neutral pH is maintained in biological treatment stages to support microbial activity
• Medical diagnostics: pH abnormalities in body fluids can indicate underlying health conditions
  • Blood pH outside the normal range (7.35-7.45) can signify respiratory or metabolic disorders
  • Urine pH can provide insights into kidney function, urinary tract infections, and metabolic status