# Why is maximum buffer capacity for some diprotic buffers not when pH = pKa?

According to Rajkovic et al. [1]:

$$β = \frac{[\ce{H+}]}{K_\mathrm{w}} + 2.303\cdot\frac{[\ce{H+}]\cdot K_\mathrm{a}\cdot c}{[\ce{H+}] + K_\mathrm{a}}$$

where $$K_\mathrm{a}$$ is the dissociation constant of the acid; $$c$$ is the concentration of the acid in all forms; and $$K_\mathrm{w}$$ is the ionization constant of water $$(1·10^{–14})$$. It can be seen that the buffer capacity of the acid is greatest when $$[\ce{H+}]$$ equals $$K_\mathrm{a}$$ (or when the $$\mathrm{pH}$$ is equal to the $$\mathrm{p}K_\mathrm{a}$$ of the acid). This relationship can be used for mixtures of monoprotic acids and many diprotic acids (by considering them to be made up of two monoprotic acids). Unfortunately, this is not true for most of the diprotic acids found in wines because the second dissociation is not completely independent of the first.

Is it true that for some diprotic acids maximum buffer capacity is not reached when $$\mathrm{pH} = \mathrm{p}K_\mathrm{a}$$? If so, why is it true? Also, then when is buffer capacity maximum? Can it only be determined experimentally?

Or did I just misinterpret the article? Is it saying that this equation of buffer capacity is invalid for some diprotic acids instead of the fact that buffer capacity is max when $$\mathrm{pH} = \mathrm{p}K_\mathrm{a}$$?

### References

1. Rajkovic, M.; Novakovic, I.; Petrovic, A. Determination of Titratable Acidity in White Wine. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Belgrade 2007, 52 (2), 169–184. https://doi.org/10.2298/JAS0702169R.
• Well, the last sentence more or less sums it up: "Unfortunately, this is not true for most of the diprotic acids found in wines because the second dissociation is not completely independent of the first." – Night Writer Mar 30 at 8:08
• @NightWriter How is the second dissociation not being completely independent of the first a reason why maximum buffer capacity for some diprotic buffers is not when pH=pKa? I feel like I'm missing some intermediate steps of understanding this concept. – YeRyeon Seo Mar 30 at 8:15
• You can think of it qualitatively as a tug of war between the two groups. Each has a different associated buffering region and pulls the pH into that region. If they each pull the pH into separate regions, nobody wins. Admittedly not a quantitative explanation. The best is probably to work out an example. – Night Writer Mar 30 at 8:27

Any aqueous solution increases its buffer capacity toward $$\mathrm{p}H = 0$$ or $$\mathrm{p}H = 14$$, as more and more acid or basis is needed to change $$\mathrm{p}H$$ by a given interval. It happens even without presence of any buffering substance, aside of strong acids or bases.
The similar phenomena occurs in case of multiple $$\mathrm{p}K_\mathrm{a}$$ in the solution, of the same or of different compounds. On the background of non steady capacity function, a particular peak may not have a shape of a peak.