Buffers, the Acid Rain Slayer: Crash Course Chemistry #31

In this episode, Hank talks about how nutty our world is via Buffers! He defines buffers and their compositions and talks about carbonate buffering systems in nature, acid rain, pH of buffers, and titration. Plus, a really cool experiment using indicators to showcase just how awesome buffers are.
Pssst... we made flashcards to help you review the content in this episode! Find them on the free Crash Course App!
Download it here for Apple Devices: apple.co/3d4eyZo
Download it here for Android Devices: bit.ly/2SrDulJ
--
Table of Contents
Nature is Nutty 0:00
Carbonate Buffering and Acid Rain 0:35
Definition of Buffers 1:47
Composition of Buffers 2:26
pH of Buffers 3:33
Titration 7:43
Carbonate Buffering in Nature 7:12
-
Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at / crashcourse
Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook - / youtubecrashcourse
Twitter - / thecrashcourse
Instagram - / thecrashcourse
CC Kids: / crashcoursekids

[@crashcourse]

Pssst... we made flashcards to help you review the content in this episode! Find them on the free Crash Course App! Download it here for Apple Devices: apple.co/3d4eyZo Download it here for Android Devices: bit.ly/2SrDulJ

[@lili011]

Hank, your excitation from watching the color of the solution change inspires me to be more passionate in my studies. SCIENCE.

[@vineethsarode6515]

ElleonOnline Hank got an orgasm when the color changed😂😂

[@skt8929]

"yeah science"

[@CWAladyatheart]

Hank, your nerdiness and pretty flawless understanding of everything as demonstrated in this video and in crash course chem in general is so incredibly appreciated.

[@zack150]

its scripted though

[@sagaurora]

Yes it's scripted but the passion about what's in the script is not:)

[@ashleyfoster1028]

Scripting doesn't always make it interesting or coherent it's how they present the material and how interesting they make it.

[@leo-hao]

CC chemistry outtakes would like to know your location

[@whitewolf316]

To everyone who keeps complaining about the speed of the video... This is a video.. Which means you have a pause and rewind button.

[@prakharlondhe3876]

and not to forget the slow speed button :D

[@JoneseyBanana]

whitewolf316 I'm a native english science student watching at half speed and I'm still rewinding every few sentences.

[@DeepanRKumar]

+whitewolf316 I bloody abused that 0.5x speed option lol.

[@user-qp3xo3lq5h]

Are you trying to take notes? I find this type of content is best viewed after reading all relevant information and simply absorbing the video. Let your brain process it.

[@elainew.5301]

And it's called a crash course for a reason lol

[@maychew3353]

All my life I did not know you can titrate by turning the knob in a full circle to produce smaller volumes.

[@aidenpons9584]

Our chem teacher hates that, telling us to "do it the proper way," but this works a lot better.

[@Mezuzah87]

+Aiden Pons Students will break the burrette doing it this way quite often, hence why General Chemistry students shouldn't do it that way ;)

[@apolloaggrey5958]

Did chem, never heard of that...😂😂

[@arifaboshor3501]

Better. I thought it was a fidget spinner

[@molihua354]

@@aidenpons9584 Rip, our AP Chem teacher specifically told us to use the full circle methods as he said that that was more precise.

[@ninjabreadgirl]

A MAGNETIC STIRRER?! That is so exciting!! And here I am primitively shaking my beaker around like a Neanderthal... bah. xD I get just as excited as you when I do titrations, hahaha, and everyone thinks I'm weird but I JUST LOVE CHEMISTRY!!!!! I LOVE YOU HANK! THANKS FOR BEING AWESOME!

[@Thought-Cafe]

We

[@morganburkhardt661]

This 12 minute video just taught me what my professors failed to teach me in 4 class periods, and quite possibly saved my exam grade.

[@sarah3246327]

Getting such a precise titration is really an art form. It took me many hours in the lab to get that good, so I totally understood Hank's excitement here

[@brikatmarlizhku2896]

THANK YOU Hank and everyone behind Crash Course for making everything easier to understand!!! My chemistry teacher does not know how to teach but still gives us killer assessments, so if we want to do well we basically have to commit hours and hours to self study (not to mention panic with all my fellow classmates). This has helped so much!!! Sincerely, A stressed and panicky teen

[@RougeSamurai77]

You are a good person.

[@finlandthefin3965]

+Cross Roads Productions - RougeSaumurai77 Yes, I agree

[@andersnelson6464]

thanks man

[@ashishy]

Yes i am😇

[@Perfect.Spirited.]

Maximum nerdiness in this episode, I love it.

[@nixy9437]

WitByndMsr he's so cute lol

[@henryelicker2403]

Something about this video makes it very cathartic. It's between Hank's unbridled respect for the environment and chemistry and the lack of cuts during the great titration. This was a good one.

[@blakehoward2804]

Watch from 4:42 to 4:55 in slow motion (.5 speed). It's hilarious. You will not regret it.

[@prakharlondhe3876]

well that's nice :D

[@Jajamola888]

Drunk algebra

[@crstph]

Blake Howard also slo mo when he says "drippy drips"

[@JM-lh8rl]

Hahahaha. I hadn't laughed so much in the past week. Thanks for making my day!

[@BhahulyaThirumalaisamy221002]

So True!! :D :D

[@zezo69]

"this is the stuff I get excited about" Hahaha, I laughed out loud by that part.

[@bryanwan6169]

Buffy, the vampire slayer

[@fuckthisshiat]

this was probably the best crash course video. i like how you incorporated the lab portion and showed an actual titration. it made the calculation seem less dry (Y)

[@duckiesicons]

I got as excited as Hank watching that perfect titration. Maybe I'm a nerd, maybe its just finals-week hysteria.

[@zoereed4010]

I love these crash course videos, they inspire me to give 100% in my studies. Please, never stop making these videos

[@rocc6596]

i lost it after that R.I.C.E. my brain hurts from all those terms I haven't learned yet and equation like problems

[@carloscerritoslira328]

same haha

[@QS30]

the amount of information thrown at us in these ~12 minutes can, at times, be staggering - but in a good way! :) TY for the crash course; it was much needed

[@JBoyle-jr9wb]

Man it was a satisfying ordeal getting to the end point. What a beautiful faint red.

[@nicogoodenow1050]

I love crash course, this program has helped everyone I know at least once. Thank you for your work.

[@Emily-fw7zi]

Brilliant video! Been studying chem for 4 years and have never seen the quick method of dripping small drops with a burette!! Thanks for teaching me!!

[@ragefisten]

one of your more interesting chemistry videos. Thank you to everyone who works so hard to produce such amazing content.

[@fuliajulia]

Crash Course is So Awesome! I used to just watch it as a hobby, but so far in my current school year each Monday video has taught me what I will be learning in class on Tuesday!

[@dansekazoo5700]

These videos are wonderful. Hank's personality as well as the excellent quality of the graphics and overall presentation really make learning enjoyable. Sometimes things move a bit too fast and I have to go back and replay sections - but this is exactly what makes these videos great. No sitting through a boring 40 minute video that only gives you 10 minutes of information.

[@ella-tm1tp]

My teacher assigned this video for online school and I've been watching so much vlogbrothers in quarantine that I almost expected him to say "John, I'll see you on Tuesday" at the end

[@xujiazhong8701]

That's an awesome course! It saves my chemistry midterm. Thank you so much!

[@coda3223]

Best Title Ever! Takes so many of the things I love and put them together! Yay Clark Fork River, we have some of that over here too! I actually went on a wading science activity thing in the Clark Fork River when I was a 4th grader, just another example of why we should be caring for our environment better.

[@chelseabautista7319]

Best episode I've watched so far. :D When we did this in the lab, it was literally boring and not much excitement at all. Never thought I'd appreciate it very well in here. :))

[@sarowie]

Thank you as always but a really big thank you for the very episode. Crash Course Chemistry is always interesting, but starting outdoor and by using very basic chemicals and lab equipment, you made it very relevant to me. Usually, it is hard to get the basic and the bigger picture into a show for eureka moment. Here: Done perfectly. Of course, this moment based on all lessons before that, but teaching starting from scratch to this moment is an art in its own rights.

[@blakeraynor4250]

Thanks again for all you do man. This really helped me in studying for my LSS exam.

[@abhayanand9585]

Wonderful explanation! I loved the experiments!

[@matthewmitchell4437]

Little note at 6:48 where Hank comments about not being justified to bringing out the decimal place to the 4th digit due to significant figures. Mathematically speaking, when taking the log of [H+], the digit before the decimal place is not counted among the significant figures of the final answer. Only the decimal places do. Because the numbers beforehand contain 3 significant figures, pH of 4.746 is a valid answer!

[@crstph]

tbh this was actually fascinating and hank's excitement made me excited

[@adriennegormley9358]

I'm glad to see that the Clark Fork has a natural counteragent to the gunk that went in upstream from Butte & Anaconda. I lived in the area back in the 50s & 60s so I'm very aware of how bad it could get. There used to be snarky comments about how Silver Bow Creek wasn't.

[@donvito90100]

Excellent video, really enjoyed listening to you

[@Moonfreyaa]

It's hilarious how hank looks with those 2 glasses on. XD

[@Vanessa-ms2li]

Thank you for putting a meaning to what I am learning!

[@LizardBeaming]

This video is endlessly useful, thanks for explaining buffers better than my actual chemistry book!

[@nextjuanplz]

xD we're currently studying buffers in junior IB Chemistry at my school, and all of us are just as excited as you to properly carry out our titrations for our Data Collection Processing Internal Assessments, so you're not alone in that nerdiness :P

[@shiyeelim9182]

Ur videos are always damn awesome! And making chemistry really interesting! Thanks! keep up the good work! 👍👍👍

[@sarac5360]

Thank you for this awesome video!

[@tasuki199]

When it came to the equations I was totally lost... But when you show how it reacts in the real world and apply that to the equation I'm understanding! Best. Teacher. Ever!

[@JamesWalkerYEG]

I noticed something throughout yhis video and want to say Thank you so much for demonstating proper safety by wearing yoyr goggles throughout the whole reaction Hank. Talking about safety is one thing, actually modelling it is another!

[@julianjames5166]

Great video as always

[@rhianaeverest0808]

Ahhhh I knew what you were talking about with the titration thing cause I just did that in my AP Chem class yay I'm so proud of myself for understanding

[@yungsloth8336]

God damn it! Hank and ze crew you guys rock! I loved this episode just like every other you guys have made!

[@frankchen4229]

SciShow was what made this crash course more familiar and fun to watch

[@HT-rq5pi]

7:31 the calcium ion should have a charge of 2+, not 1+. Not trying to nitpick, but just wanted to point that out. Thanks for the video!

[@meranaamshivamhai]

This video was worth than those 4 hrs. of mine struggling in ionic equilibrium for iit.

[@luisa_4120]

me in chem class... partner usual laughs at my reaction!! LOVE! Hank you are helping me not give up!

[@exolay7355]

Hank, your excited expression was so cute, the part where you said you know yourself as a nerd.

[@ElanaSl]

Thank you!!!!! first time i sorta understand the concept

[@vinni40k]

true, there are two definitions of acids and bases and my description was lacking, you're right

[@gyaredos2]

I WATCHED THIS TODAY IN MY GRADE 12 CHEMISTRY CLASS!!!!!!

[@snaillove1]

perfect timing hank...i needed this for my chemistry exam tomorrow!

[@alexanderdavidsoncarroll7788]

Thank you so much for inspiring my love for chemistry

[@DoctorJammer]

This is one of your best vids

[@alicelu9387]

Thanks! Always like your video best!

[@rogerdotlee]

There is one common thread linking Hank, all the gang at Periodic Videos, Destin from Smarter Every Day, John, and every teacher that I did not have until I was out of high school (with the three band instructors I had growing up being the notable exceptions) but was told, repeatedly, that they did exist: An unabashed love of their subject that shows itself in every video. You all have made learning FUN. I only wish you were my chem teacher instead of the one that I had in High School.

[@willfiore96]

loved the buffering graphics...

[@whiteflagstoo]

That was PERFECT!!

[@konsueloramirez]

that reaction was indeed beautiful...

[@TCfoxs]

I like your suite. It's legendary.

[@sumbaljahanara1482]

Incredible job 🎉

[@SecretFiri]

I really wish you existed back when I was doing my IB diploma, as I took Chem HL. You do summarise this in such a way it's super understandable!

[@srinivasadireddi]

And that is amazing!

[@tsurumonetally4531]

6:36 That first equation is incorrect. You have accidentally flipped the numerator and denominator. Although later on it is not a problem in this calculation because it will get flipped anyways, by solving for the hydrogen concentration; but it is still a mistake. I was confused for a while before I figured it out. Hopefully you can add an annotation to indicate this in the video. Thanks.

[@romantheflash]

That was really interesting, have not heard about buffers before...so that was new :)

[@sarowie]

Fully agreed. An here in his function as an advisor, he should/must be a good example. Using gloves and glasses for all work is just the right thing to do. Usually, such an experiment is just an entry level experiment for more things to come: Students need to get used to working properly (in a situation where the risk literally is insignificant), before taking on more complex expriments with bigger hazards.

[@ProfOak-dx6np]

Great video!

[@valeriahmangaba8771]

very helpful...thank you

[@samconner2619]

ugh...I'm addicted to these!

[@aimenjavaid1559]

Man your videos are so amazing 😍

[@hamadkadventures5358]

Thank you very much!

[@Teaspoonofwonton]

I had way too much fun with that. Thank you.

[@WayTruthLife3]

Thanks as always!

[@willardmcmorris9702]

oh thank you, i lived in the Adirondacks when acid rain was really bad, thanks for a 'shout out' i have yet to make it to Montana, but i had a pontaic minivan!

[@emannuelmartinez]

This was possibly the best possible episode I could have had my subbable message in xD I linked her to this video! Wish me luck!!!

[@maplesyrup2944]

Cool! You can spin the burette tap. Seems to work well.

[@dearmalaysia]

My titration experiment I did a while ago was a complete flop, so it's satisfying to see him do well in his

[@impguardwarhamer]

oh god, we have a cau on titration on Monday and our chemistry teacher has been away so I didn't know what titration was! thanks so much hank!

[@cbpsd]

NO ONE told me about Acid-Base Pair as my dear Hank did, Love You Hank. You are incredible !!!!!!

[@AnimusPrime87]

I was going to do an "all your base" thing, but this was actually very helpful.

[@FatmasterKY3]

I found that very exciting

[@zacharyivanhawkins251]

The most accurate way to perform a titration is to take pH readings of your solution as a function of the total volume of titrant added. Hopefully you should get a beautiful curve, and from there, determine the equivalence point.

[@bolb6000commenterlol]

8:14 yay you put on your goggles and gloves!

[@johanasuh6463]

dude thank you. you're awesome

[@shaykonradsdottir3130]

I have 24 hours from this point before I have to take two exams that I haven't studied at all for. Bless this series.

[@arthurwashington5881]

Great video

[@ashwinarora7561]

everytime I see a new crash course video in my news feed I am like ' yeah I can learn something new'

[@NoodleBoiCaraxes]

Saving my arse once again. Love this channel!

[@catisalivecatisdead]

I love the title of this episode!

[@braincabbage]

my brain doesn't really fathom the calculations but apart from that I'm amazed at how much I understood! I'm still not going to be able to enjoy chemistry as much though, I'm afraid ._.

[@shamil91531]

So interesting!

[@xboxboy93941]

That titration of Hank's made me have flashbacks to my days in Quantitative Analysis Laboratory...ah, fun times...

[@saeedbaig4249]

6:36- You set up the equation for k wrong here. The acetic acid should switch places with the denominator. U should have set it up like you did in 4:37.

[@saeedbaig4249]

I meant the frame where the yellow "k" is the subject of the equation (the frame lasts for less than a second, immediately after he says "let's just solve for that" at the beginning of 6:36 ) is set up wrong. However, the actual value they calculated for H^+ is correct because the equation they set up in 6:37 is correct (even if it doesn't follow from the one shown at the beginning of 6:36).

[@kusalseven3563]

Cool, we need more