Is a strong acid the same as a concentrated acid?

They sound like they should mean something similar! However, chemistry uses words very carefully, and these words have very specific meanings. Strong acids completely dissociate in water. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is an example - if you mixed this with water, the hydrogens and chlorines wouldn't stay together - you'd find them separate, as H+ and Cl- ions. The hydrochloric acid is said to have therefore been completely 'ionised' in water. Given that there will be more free H+ ions, the pH of the solution will be lower. Strength is measured in pH, and strong acids will have a low pH.If an acid is concentrated, there is a lot of the acid per set volume of water, regardless of how much it has dissociated. It is measured in mol/dm^3. You can have a weak acid (has a pH around 5, is not that ionised in solution) that nonetheless is very concentrated as there is a lot of it per volume.

KB
Answered by Katharina B. Chemistry tutor

8771 Views

See similar Chemistry GCSE tutors

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Explain the nuclear model


How would you carry out a flame test and what colours would Li+, Na+, K+ and Ca2+ ions form?


Write a word equation for the reaction between marble chips and hydrochloric acid. (1) How could the rate of reaction be increased and why? (7)


Explain the electronic configuration of Sodium (Na) and how this relates to its position in the periodic table.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning