starting buffer

5.4

A liquid made at the start of an experiment to keep the pH steady

noun

Specialized

: solución tampón inicial

The starting buffer was carefully prepared to achieve the desired pH for the experiment.

Examples

It is important to use a fresh starting buffer to avoid contamination in sensitive assays.
Changing the starting buffer can significantly affect the outcome of the enzymatic reaction.
The starting buffer was prepared in the lab.
Can you mix the starting buffer for the experiment?
Changing the starting buffer can significantly affect the outcome of the enzymatic reaction.
It is important to use a fresh starting buffer to avoid contamination in sensitive assays.
The starting buffer was carefully prepared to achieve the desired pH for the experiment.

Synonyms

buffer

vsstarting buffer

Specialized

5 5.8

A liquid that keeps its acidity steady when acid or base is added

is a solution prepared and used at the start of a reaction to maintain pH

buffer solution

vsstarting buffer

Specialized

4.4

A liquid that keeps acidity about the same when acids or bases are added

is prepared and used at the start of a reaction to maintain pH

Surface Forms

starting buffer singular

starting buffers plural

Morphology

starting + buffer

The meaning is directly built from 'starting' (initial) + 'buffer' (a pH-stabilizing solution): a learner who knows both words can infer this refers to the buffer used at the beginning of an experiment. Though somewhat technical, the adjective+noun composition follows normal, cross-linguistically common patterns, so the meaning is predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Starting buffer is like a soft pad put down at the start of an experiment. The word starting shows it's prepared 'at the beginning' and buffer suggests something that keeps things steady, so the phrase means a solution made to keep the acidity or pH steady at the start of a reaction.