Final answer:
To raise the pH of a solution that is too acidic, a base should be added as a buffer. Buffers consist of weak acids and their salts or weak bases and their salts, allowing them to resist changes in pH when acids or bases are introduced.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the pH of a solution is too low, indicating that the solution is too acidic, a base can be added as a buffer to raise the pH. A buffer is a solution that contains a weak acid and its conjugate base, or a weak base and its conjugate salt; it resists drastic changes in pH when small quantities of an acid or a base are added. For example, when a strong base is added to a buffered solution, the increase in pH is minimal compared to the change in an unbuffered solution.
A well-known example of a buffer system is a solution of acetic acid (weak acid) and sodium acetate (salt of the weak acid) which maintains the solution's pH within a narrow range even when strong acids or bases are introduced. This buffering action is essential in various biological and chemical processes where maintaining a stable pH is critical.