During a weak acid or base titration, where does the buffer zone typically occur?

In the context of weak acid or base titrations, the buffer zone typically occurs around the pKa of the weak acid (or pKb of the weak base), which is usually defined as being within 1 pH unit either side of this value. This is because a buffer solution is formed when there is a significant concentration of both the weak acid and its conjugate base (or vice versa) present in the solution.

During titration, particularly when a weak acid is being titrated with a strong base, the pH changes gradually when you are in the buffer zone due to the presence of these species that can react with added acids or bases without significantly changing the pH. The capacity of the buffer to resist changes in pH is strongest at the pKa, hence this zone is critical for understanding how the system behaves as titration progresses.

At the point of complete neutralization or at the equivalence point, the solution may not have significant concentrations of the weak acid or conjugate base, resulting in a less effective buffer. Saturation of the solution refers to a different context entirely, focused on solubility rather than on the titration process. Thus, the buffer zone effectively helps maintain a relatively stable pH around