Pharmaceutical acids are inorganic substances used in the preparation of medicines, either as active ingredients or as excipients. Examples include hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and phosphoric acid.
Bases such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and ammonium hydroxide are used in pharmaceutical manufacturing for pH adjustment and preparation of salts.
Buffers are solutions that resist changes in pH upon the addition of small amounts of acid or base. They are essential in maintaining pH stability of pharmaceutical formulations.
Buffers are widely used in ophthalmic, parenteral, and oral formulations to enhance drug stability, solubility, and patient comfort.