Final answer:
The pH of a buffered aspirin is higher and more neutral than non-buffered aspirin, due to the addition of buffering agents that help to regulate the acidity and reduce stomach irritation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pH of a buffered aspirin is higher (more neutral) than that of non-buffered aspirin due to the presence of a buffering agent which neutralizes the acidity. Buffered aspirin contains a buffering agent like MgO or calcium carbonate which acts as a base to regulate the aspirin's acidity and minimize acidic side effects. Non-buffered aspirin does not include such an agent and so maintains its intrinsic acidity, typically making it more acidic than buffered aspirin.
As a weak acid, aspirin can be corrosive to the stomach lining, and the use of buffers helps to mitigate this problem by maintaining a pH that is closer to physiological levels, making buffered aspirin gentler on the stomach.