Module V: Buffered and Isotonic Solutions
*Gibbs’ Phase Rule
Working equation: F= C- P + 2
*Phase Diagrams
1) One component system
2) Two component system
3) Three component system
A. Properties of Solutions
1. Additive
2. Constitutive
3. Colligative
a. Vapor pressure lowering
b. Boiling point elevation
c. Freezing point depression
d. Osmotic Pressure
B. Ionic Equilibria
1. Acid-Base Equilibria
2. Sorensen’s pH scale
C. Buffered and Isotonic Solutions
I. BUFFER:
➢ Mixture of compounds capable of resisting a drastic change in pH when a strong
acid or a strong base is added.
➢ Components: Weak acid & its conjugate base
Weak base & its conjugate acid
➢ Importance
✓ To maintain pH; for stability
✓ To prevent tissue irritation
✓ Optimum therapeutic response
✓ Solubility
➢ Important buffers:
✓ Citrate buffer- important pharmaceutically
✓ Carbonate buffer
✓ Boric buffer- for external preparation
✓ Acetate buffer
✓ Phosphate buffer
➢ Working equations
1. Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑡
For WA and its salt 𝑝𝐻 = 𝑝𝐾𝑎 + 𝑙𝑜𝑔
𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑
𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒
For WB and its salt 𝑝𝐻 = (𝑝𝐾𝑤 − 𝑝𝐾𝑏) + 𝑙𝑜𝑔
𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑡
2. Van Slyke Equation- to determine buffer capacity
➢ Some Important Pharmaceutical Buffers:
a. Gifford’s buffer: pH 5-9
2 stock solutions: Boric Acid
Monohydrated sodium carbonate
b. Sorensen’s buffer: pH 6-8
Sodium phosphate & sodium chloride
c. Palitzsch or Hind and Goyan buffer: pH 7-9
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Boric acid, sodium borate, sodium chloride
PPhar AY 2020-2021 1st sem Prep By: GMBayeng, RPh.
d. Bower and Bates or Clark and Lubs
✓ HCl and KCl: pH 1.2-2.2
✓ HCl and potassium hydrogen phthalate: pH 2.2-4.0
✓ NaOH and potassium hydrogen phthalate: pH 4.2-5.8
✓ NaOH and KH2PO4: pH 5.8-8.0
✓ H3BO3, NaOH and KCl: pH 8.0-10.0
➢ Influence of Buffer capacity and pH on Tissue
❖ Tissue irritation will be minimal
✓ The lower the buffer capacity of the solution
✓ The smaller volume used, for a given concentration
✓ The larger the volume and buffer capacity of the physiologic fluid
➢ pH and Solubility
▪ at low pH, a base is predominantly in ionic form which is usually very
soluble in water
▪ as the pH is raised, the more undissolved base is formed.
➢ SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS
1. What is the pH of a buffer sol’n prepared w/ 0.005M Na3BO3 & 0.5M H3BO3. Ka=
1x10-4.
[weak acid]
pH=pKa + log[Sa/WA] pKa= -log[ka]
pH= 4 + log [0.005M/0.5M] = 2 pKa= -log[1x10-4]
2. What is the molar ratio of Acid/Salt of NaCH 3COOH-CH3COOH buffer solution
having the pH of 4.56? pka=2.56
pH=pKa+log[Sa/WA] What if pH=pKa?
pH-pKa= log[Sa/WA] *antilog
[Sa/WA]= 10pH-pKa [Sa/WA]= 10pH-pKa
[Sa/WA]= 10(4.56-2.56) [Sa/WA]= 10(4.56-4.56)
[Sa/WA]= 10 2 [Sa/WA]= 100
[Sa/WA] = 100/1 [Sa/WA] = 1/1
[A/S]= 1/100 *ionized=unionized
II. Isotonic solutions
A. Types of tonicity
1. Isotonic
- The osmotic pressure of solution is equal to the osmotic pressure of body fluids
- Advantage: i. causes no swelling or contraction of tissues
ii. does not produce discomfort when instilled in the eye,
nasal tract or other body fluids
2. Hypotonic
- The solution has lower osmotic pressure than cell fluids
3. Hypertonic
- The solution has higher osmotic pressure than cell fluids
B. Methods of measuring tonicity
1. Hemolytic method
2. Methods that determine colligative properties
C. Methods of adjusting tonicity
1. Class I
i. Cryoscopic method
ii. NaCl equivalent Method
2. Class II
i. White Vincent Method
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ii. Sprowl’s Method
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PPhar AY 2020-2021 1st sem Prep By: GMBayeng, RPh.
