Formic acid is a weak acid along with a pKa of 3.75. Name of this comes through the Latin term "formica" ("ant") since it is extremely plentiful into the secretions of several species of ants, and is particular of the irritants delivered by several stinging wasps, bees and ants.
Imagine that using formic acid like the basis for a buffer for biochemical investigation. Would this be most helpful for creating a buffered solution at pH 2, 4, or 6? So, briefly define your answer.
Ans:
pH 4: it is near the pKa. Therefore, there will be sufficient amounts of both conjugate acid and conjugate base to function as an effective buffer.