Molecular Biology Problem Solver: A Laboratory Guide. Edited by Alan S Gerstein opyright◎2001 ISBNS:0-471-37972-7( Paper);0-471 (Electronic) The Preparation of Buffers and other solutions: A Chemist's Perspective Edward A. Pfannkoch 32 Why buffer Can You substitute one buffer for another? How Does a Buffer Control the pH of a Solution? When Is a Buffer Not a Buffer? 33 What Are the Criteria to Consider When Selecting a Buffer What Can Generate an Incorrect or Unreliable Buffer? What ls the Storage Lifetime of a Buffer? Editors note: Many, perhaps most, molecular biology procedures don't require perfection in the handling of reagents and solution preparation. When procedures fail and logical thinking produces a dead end, it might be worthwhile to carefully review your experimental reagents and their preparation. The author of this discussion is an extremely meticulous analytical chemist, not a molecular biologist. He describes the most frequent mistakes and misconceptions observed during two decades of experimentation that requires excruciating accuracy and reproducibility in reagent preparation 3 131 3 The Preparation of Buffers and Other Solutions: A Chemist’s Perspective Edward A. Pfannkoch Buffers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Why Buffer?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Can You Substitute One Buffer for Another?. . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 How Does a Buffer Control the pH of a Solution? . . . . . . . 32 When Is a Buffer Not a Buffer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 What Are the Criteria to Consider When Selecting a Buffer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 What Can Generate an Incorrect or Unreliable Buffer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 What Is the Storage Lifetime of a Buffer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Editor’s note: Many, perhaps most, molecular biology procedures don’t require perfection in the handling of reagents and solution preparation. When procedures fail and logical thinking produces a dead end, it might be worthwhile to carefully review your experimental reagents and their preparation. The author of this discussion is an extremely meticulous analytical chemist, not a molecular biologist. He describes the most frequent mistakes and misconceptions observed during two decades of experimentation that requires excruciating accuracy and reproducibility in reagent preparation. Molecular Biology Problem Solver: A Laboratory Guide. Edited by Alan S. Gerstein Copyright © 2001 by Wiley-Liss, Inc. ISBNs: 0-471-37972-7 (Paper); 0-471-22390-5 (Electronic)