the pH of a strong acid is the ______ than the pH of a weaker acid if they have the same __________

The pH of a strong acid is lower than the pH of a weaker acid if they have the same concentration.

Here's why:

1. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is. It ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral. A pH less than 7 is acidic, and a pH greater than 7 is basic.

2. Strong acids fully dissociate in water, meaning they release more hydrogen ions (H+) into the solution. This increases the acidity of the solution, thus lowering the pH.

3. On the other hand, weak acids do not fully dissociate in water, meaning they release fewer hydrogen ions (H+) into the solution. This results in a less acidic solution, thus a higher pH.

4. If a strong acid and a weak acid have the same concentration, the strong acid will still release more hydrogen ions into the solution, making it more acidic and thus having a lower pH.