Acids, Bases, pH, and Buffers

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Acids, Bases, pH, and Buffers

Special staining protocols often depend on using acids, bases, and buffers to achieve favorable staining outcomes.
The pH of a staining solution measures its acidity or alkalinity; it reflects the balance of hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxyl ions (OH).
On a pH scale of 1.0 to 14:
Buffers are substances often added to staining solutions to prevent fluctuations in pH.