Doesn’t the weak acid dissociate to produce the conjugate base on its own?
I understand that when a strong base is added to the buffer solution, the hydroxide ions will react with the hydrogen ions formed via the dissociation of the weak acid. The equilibrium position will shift rightwards to replenish these hydrogen ions, ensuring that few hydroxide ions remain in the solution.
Conversely, when a strong acid is added to the buffer solution, the hydrogen ions will react with the conjugate base to form the weak acid molecule, thereby ensuring that most of the additional hydrogen ions are removed from the solution, and the pH of the solution remains stable. In the literature I’ve been reading so far, it is mentioned that a salt solution containing the conjugate base ensures that there is a continuous supply of the ions, but can’t the ions simply be replenished by the dissociation of more weak acid molecules, as in the previous case?