Difference Between Tris Base and Tris HCl

Key Difference – Tris Base vs Tris HCl
 

Tris base and tris HCl are organic compounds that can be used in the preparation of buffer solutions. There are many similarities as well as differences between tris base and tris HCl. The only difference between the chemical structure of two compounds is that tris HCl has an HCl molecule associated with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane molecule which is in general known as tris base. The key difference between tris base and tris HCl is that tris base contains the chemical formula C₄H₁₁NO₃ whereas tris HCl contains the same chemical formula with an additional HCl molecule.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Tris Base
3. What is Tris HCl
4. Similarities Between Tris Base and Tris HCl
5. Side by Side Comparison – Tris Base vs Tris HCl in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Tris Base?

The term tris base is used to name the compound tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, having the chemical formula C₄H₁₁NO₃. It is also known as THAM. It is an organic compound used as a component in the buffer solutions TAE and TBE buffers.

This compound contains a primary amine group. Therefore it can undergo reactions that a typical primary amine undergoes; eg: condensation reactions with aldehydes. The basic properties of this compound arise due to this amine group. The molar mass of this compound is 121.14 g/mol. It is a white crystalline powder at room temperature and pressure. The melting point of this compound is around 176 °C, and the boiling point is 219 °C.

The effective pH range of this compound is between 7.5 to 9.0. This is because the pKa of conjugated acid of this compound is at 25^oC is 8.07. This buffer can inhibit certain enzymes by changing the pH. The compound is prepared industrially by the condensation of nitromethane with formaldehyde under basic conditions.

What is Tris HCl?

Tris HCl is tris hydrochloride having the chemical formula C₄H₁₁NO₃ · HCl. The molar mass of this compound is 157.59 g/mol. The IUPAC name of tris HCl is 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol hydrochloride. It is also known as THAM hydrochloride.

It is an organic compound that is often used in buffer solutions such as TAE and TBE. This compound is highly water soluble. This compound works better in a pH range from 7.0 to 9.0. It can be used in the preparation of Laemmli buffer, which is used in SDS-PAGE buffers.

The preparation of tris HCl is done by mixing tris with HCl. When tris is mixed with tris HCL, a buffer solution can be obtained, which is very useful to avoid the need of working with strong acids or strong bases.

What are the Similarities Between Tris Base and Tris HCl?

• Both are components in TAE and TBE buffer solutions.
• Both are organic compounds.

What is the Difference Between Tris Base and Tris HCl?

Summary – Tris Base vs Tris HCl

Tris base and tris HCl are components in different buffer solutions. The key difference between tris base and tris HCl is that tris base contains the chemical formula C₄H₁₁NO₃ whereas tris HCl contains the same chemical formula with an additional HCl molecule.

Reference:

1. “Tris.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Feb. 2018, Available here.
2. “Tris HCl.” Tris HCl – Gold Biotechnology, Available here.
3. “Tromethamine hydrochloride.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Tris” By Klaus Hoffmeier – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol 200” By Emeldir (talk) – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia