Quick chemistry question- Urgent

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>Ok, i know buffers serve as a base and acid, but how can buffers decrease the concentration of H+, if the net result is same?
Here is what i mean:</p>

<p>lets say in a liter of water there are 4 hydrogen ions and the solution is acidic...</p>

<p>so when you add 2 H2CO3 ( carbonic acid), which is a buffer, this concentration should decrease right?</p>

<p>but, as i see it:</p>

<p>the two carbonic acids will dissociate into two HCO3- and two H+</p>

<p>then, the biocarbonate ions will combine with two H+ from the solution and we will have:</p>

<p>H2CO3 , H2CO3, H+ , H+ , H+ ,H+ </p>

<p>Since, the buffer left two hydrogen ions from its original dissociation, we end up with the same concentration. So, how is it supposed to decrease the concentration then? </p>

<p>And is my reasoning right ?</p>

<p>It is my first semester in chemistry , so i am very confused about this.</p>

<p>Also if you have time, is ionization the same as dissociation?</p>

2

<p>A buffer doesn't necessarily make a solution more neutral, just stabilizes it such that if an acid or base is <em>added</em>, the concentration of H+ or OH- won't <em>change</em> so much. </p>

<p>And ionization is the same as dissociation.</p>

<p>(people, feel free to correct me...)</p>