What happens to the pH of a hydrochloric acid solution when it is diluted with water?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. It increases towards 7

  1. Step 1: Dilution lowers the concentration of hydrogen ions.
  2. Step 2: So the solution becomes less acidic and the pH rises towards 7.
Answer
It increases towards 7.
Why not the others: It decreases towards 0: dilution reduces the acidity. It stays the same: the hydrogen ion concentration drops. It increases above 7: adding water cannot make it alkaline.

Practise more Rates, Acids and Nature's Chemistry.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed National 5 (Scotland) mock tests.