concentrated

Concentrated is an adjective describing a substance that contains a relatively large proportion of a solute relative to the solvent, or a solution that has had much of its solvent removed. It is often the opposite of dilute. In chemistry, concentration measures how much solute is present in a given amount of solution or solvent. Common units include molarity (moles per liter), molality (moles per kilogram of solvent), mass percent, volume percent, and mole fraction. The concentration can change through processes such as evaporation, distillation, crystallization, or addition of solvent.

In practical terms, many products are sold as concentrates that must be diluted before use, such as fruit juice concentrate or cleaning concentrates. Concentrates offer storage efficiency, reduced packaging, and cost savings, but require preparation before consumption or use.

Beyond chemistry, the term can describe focus or intensity, as in a concentrated effort or a concentrated gaze, indicating high mental focus or energy directed at a task.

Safety and handling: more concentrated solutions and reagents can be more hazardous and reactive; appropriate safety measures and labeling are important.

See also: concentration, dilution, solvent, solution.