A buffer solution is a solution that only changes slightly when an acid or a base is added to it. For an acid-buffer solution, it consists of a week acid and its conjugate base. For a basic-buffer solution, it consists of a week base and its conjugate acid.
What is true for a buffered solution?
A buffered solution consists of a weak base and its conjugate acid or a weak acid and its conjugate base in an aqueous solution.
What are the requirements for a solution to be buffered?
To effectively maintain a pH range, a buffer must consist of a weak conjugate acid-base pair, meaning either a. a weak acid and its conjugate base, or b. a weak base and its conjugate acid. The use of one or the other will simply depend upon the desired pH when preparing the buffer.