Final answer:
An extraction buffer helps to maintain a stable pH and facilitates the extraction of materials by stabilizing the pH and dissolving cell membranes, similar to how soap cleans hands by dissolving oils and microbes. Buffers absorb excess hydroxide and hydrogen ions, preventing dramatic pH changes and maintaining the buffer capacity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of an extraction buffer in a scientific context is to stabilize the pH of a solution and aid in the extraction process of various components from a sample. This buffer contains soap, which has the ability to dissolve cell membranes because it acts as an emulsifier. When you wash your hands with soap, it captures and helps remove dirt, oils, and microbes by dissolving the lipid membranes and encapsulating them in soap micelles, which are then rinsed away with water.
Buffers are crucial in biological systems and experimental procedures because they maintain a stable pH when acids or bases are added, thus preventing significant pH changes. Buffer capacity is the amount of strong acid or base that can be added before the pH changes drastically. An example of a biological buffer system is the bicarbonate or carbonate system in the human body that helps maintain blood pH.
For instance, if strong base like NaOH is added to a buffer, the buffer will absorb the excess hydroxide ions and prevent a significant increase in pH. Conversely, if strong acid is introduced, the buffer will absorb the extra hydrogen ions, again preventing a significant decrease in pH.