The pKa for benzoic acid is 4.20. A buffer is made using benzoic acid and sodium

Question

The pKa for benzoic acid is 4.20. A buffer is made using benzoic acid and sodium benzoate. The pH of this buffer is 5.00. The ratio of sodium benzoate to benzoic acid is 6.3.

If NaOH is added to this buffer, which of the following changes will occur?

A. [benzoic acid] will decrease and [sodium benzoate] will increase.
B. [benzoic acid] will increase and [sodium benzoate] will stay the same.
C. [benzoic acid] will stay the same and [sodium benzoate] will decrease.
D. [benzoic acid] will stay the same and [sodium benzoate] will increase.
E. [benzoic acid] will decrease and [sodium benzoate] will stay the same

Explanation / Answer

If you add NaOH it will alkalinize your solution, it means the acid will go down and your salt will go up as your acid is consumed.

So your answer is A.

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