acetate buffer

An acetate buffer is a solution that helps maintain a stable pH, which is a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is. It is made by mixing acetic acid (a weak acid) with sodium acetate (its salt). This combination allows the solution to resist changes in pH when acids or bases are added. Acetate buffers are commonly used in laboratories and biological experiments because many processes, like enzyme activity, work best at specific pH levels. By stabilizing the pH, acetate buffers ensure that these processes can occur effectively without interruption.