Answer:
A 0.9% saline solution, also known as normal saline or physiological saline, is considered isotonic because it has a similar osmotic pressure to that of human blood. Isotonic solutions have the same concentration of solute (in this case, salt) as the fluids in the human body, which helps prevent osmotic imbalances when administered intravenously or used for various medical purposes. This makes 0.9% saline suitable for many medical applications, such as rehydration, diluting medications, and maintaining the balance of bodily fluids.
Step-by-step explanation:
However, 0.9% saline is not typically used as a buffering agent in the way that chemical buffers like phosphate buffers or Tris buffers are used in laboratory settings. Buffers are solutions that resist changes in pH when an acid or base is added, and they are often used in biochemical and chemical experiments. Saline solutions do not have the specific properties required to function as effective chemical buffers.
So, while 0.9% saline is isotonic and suitable for various medical purposes, it is not used as a chemical buffer in laboratory or experimental contexts. For buffering purposes, you would need to use specialized buffer solutions designed for that specific function.