Henderson-Hasselbalch equation

(noun)

In chemistry, the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation describes the derivation of pH as a measure of acidity (using pKa, the negative log of the acid dissociation constant) in biological and chemical systems. The equation is also useful for estimating the pH of a buffer solution and finding the equilibrium pH in acid-base reactions (it is widely used to calculate the isoelectric point of proteins).

Related Terms

Examples of Henderson-Hasselbalch equation in the following topics:

  • Acidosis

    • Metabolic acidosis is compensated for in the lungs, as increased exhalation of carbon dioxide promptly shifts the buffering equation to reduce metabolic acid.
    • The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is useful for calculating blood pH, because blood is a buffer solution.