What is an example of a buffer used in scientific applications?

Sodium phosphate is an example of a buffer widely used in scientific applications due to its ability to maintain pH stability in a solution. Buffers are solutions that can resist changes in pH upon the addition of small amounts of acids or bases. Sodium phosphate works effectively as a buffering agent because it can exist in different ionic forms (such as dihydrogen phosphate and hydrogen phosphate) depending on the pH of the solution, enabling it to neutralize both acids and bases.

This property makes sodium phosphate suitable for a variety of applications, including molecular biology protocols, biochemical experiments, and cell culture media, where a stable pH is crucial for maintaining the integrity of biological molecules and overall experimental conditions. It plays a key role in maintaining physiological pH, which is crucial for enzyme activity and function in biological systems.