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Acidity - GCSE Chemistry Definition

Reviewed by: Philippa Platt

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Acidity refers to the measure of how acidic a substance is and is determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in a solution. In the context of the GCSE Chemistry course, substances with high acidity have low pH values, typically below 7, with lower numbers indicating stronger acidity.

Acids are chemicals that can donate H⁺ ions to a solution, and common examples include hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid. Acidity can have various effects, such as impacting the taste of foods and the rate of corrosion in materials. Understanding acidity is crucial for exploring chemical reactions, such as neutralisation, where an acid reacts with a base to form a salt and water.

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Philippa Platt

Reviewer: Philippa Platt

Expertise: Chemistry Content Creator

Philippa has worked as a GCSE and A level chemistry teacher and tutor for over thirteen years. She studied chemistry and sport science at Loughborough University graduating in 2007 having also completed her PGCE in science. Throughout her time as a teacher she was incharge of a boarding house for five years and coached many teams in a variety of sports. When not producing resources with the chemistry team, Philippa enjoys being active outside with her young family and is a very keen gardener

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