I have a question and i need someone's help!

[method]

Not in a buffered system, where the pH is a function of the ratio of conjugate-base/conjugate-acid.

oops, i was using pH and p[H] interchangeably.

diluting a buffered acid system with water will still bring pH closer to neutrality.

[BioWizard]

Not in a buffered system, where the pH is a function of the ratio of conjugate-base/conjugate-acid.

oops, i was using pH and p[H] interchangeably.

diluting a buffered acid system with water will still bring pH closer to neutrality.

No it wouldn't. The pH doesn't change when I add water to pH'ed buffer solutions to make the final volume to whatever I want it to be. That's because the ratio of acid to base conjugates doesn't change with dilution. Of course if you dilute so much to the point where the molarity of the buffer is negligible, then yes the pH will be closer to neutrality (unless you have acidification from CO2 in the air), but that's a different story (more like diluting out).

And remember, pH is a logarithmic function. So even in an non-buffered acid solution (as in the case of a strong acid), you need to dilute ten times to bring the pH up by just one point. So if you have one liter of a solution at pH 2, you need to add 99 liters to bring the pH up to 4...

[method]

IIRC the pH curve of a buffered system is a sigmoid.

it changes, just not in a logo-linear fashion like a strong acid.

[BioWizard]

IIRC the pH curve of a buffered system is a sigmoid.

it changes, just not in a logo-linear fashion like a strong acid.

The sigmoidal pH curve is not a function of dilution, but rather a function of titration with strong base or acid. So you're basically plotting the pH of the system vs the molar equivalents of strong acid or base you're adding to it.

The example I gave about 100 times dilution for a 2 point increase in pH was in reference to strong acids/bases, not to buffered systems. I was taking the extreme example to show you that even in a non-buffered strong acid solution, you need a lot of dilution to bring the pH up.

[method]

aah ok. thanks for clearing that up.

[grace12]

Alkali burns are neutralized with water.

[BioWizard]

Alkali burns are neutralized with water.

Water doesn't neutralize bases. It dilutes them, rendering them less caustic. Only acids neutralize bases.