What is the function of buffers in biological systems?

Buffers are important in maintaining stable hydrogen ion (H^+) concentrations in biological systems, which helps to keep the pH within a narrow range required for survival. They work by absorbing excess H^+ ions to increase the pH when there are too many and donating H^+ ions to reduce the pH when there are too few. Buffers are typically composed of an acid-base pair, with the acid and base differing by the presence or absence of a proton, creating a conjugate acid-base pair. This allows the buffer to resist changes in pH and maintain stability within biological systems.