The Difference Between Dilute and Concentrated Nitric Acid
What is the primary difference between dilute nitric acid and concentrated nitric acid?
a) Dilute nitric acid has a lower pH.
b) Concentrated nitric acid has a higher concentration of nitrate ions.
c) Dilute nitric acid has a lower concentration of nitric acid molecules.
d) Concentrated nitric acid has a stronger acidic effect on metals.
Final answer:
The primary difference between dilute and concentrated nitric acid is the concentration of HNO3 molecules, with dilute solutions having a lower concentration of these molecules than concentrated solutions.
When comparing dilute nitric acid with concentrated nitric acid, the primary difference lies in the concentration of nitric acid (HNO3) molecules present in the solution. A dilute nitric acid solution contains a lower concentration of nitric acid molecules compared to a concentrated nitric acid solution.
This difference is not related to pH levels, as both dilute and concentrated nitric acid are strong acids with very low pH levels when dissolved in water. It also does not specifically involve the concentration of nitrate ions, as the concentration of nitrate ions is directly related to the concentration of the acid itself.
While both dilute and concentrated nitric acid can have a strong acidic effect on metals, the exact nature of this reaction may vary depending on the concentration of the nitric acid. Overall, the key distinction between dilute and concentrated nitric acid is the concentration of HNO3 molecules in the solution.