How do the acid and base components of a buffer function?

Solution 2P:

Step 1:

Here, we are going to explain how the acid and base components of a buffer functions.

Buffer consists of an acid-base pair. It can resist changes in pH due to the addition of small amounts of strong acid or strong base. It also can neutralize small amounts of added acid or base, to maintaining the pH of the solution relatively stable.

The dissociation of a weak acid (HA) is as follows:

Therefore, if a small amount of base (OH-) is added to it then, the acid reacts with it and resist the change in pH.

Similarly,

If a small amount of acid(H3O+) is added to it then, the acid reacts with base and resist the change in pH.

Therefore, the  acid component of buffer neutralizes added base and the base component neutralizes added acid, so the pH of the buffer solution remains relatively constant.