Hydrochloric Acid: Production & Uses |

Have you already dealt with hydrochloric acid or hydrochloric acid in chemistry class and would you like to find out more about what is involved?

Important facts about hydrochloric acid

• will also be hydrochloric acid called

• is the aqueous solution of the gas Hydrogen chloride or hydrogen chloride (summary formula: HCl)

• that’s why the «aq» in the sum formula of hydrochloric acid HCl (aq)

• is a colorless to yellowish liquid

• has a piercing Odor

• Hydrochloric acid is one of them mineral acids

Fig. 1: Diluted hydrochloric acid in a vessel, source via hausjournal.net

Hydrochloric acid – properties

• molar mass: 36.46 g/mol

• state of aggregation: fluid

• melting point: -30°C

• boiling point: 110°C

• PH value: 1

• acid constant: pKa value = – 6.2, thus a relatively strong acid

• Solubility: completely soluble in water

• special feature: in moist air, HCl gas forms a mist of fine hydrochloric acid droplets, which is why it is also called «fuming hydrochloric acid».

Structure and components of hydrochloric acid

Fig.2: Structural formula of hydrochloric acid

The molecular formula of hydrochloric acid is HCl. Hydrogen chloride is a molecule. It consists of one atom chlorine and an atom hydrogen. From the periodic table of the elements you can see that hydrogen has one outer electron and chlorine has seven outer electrons. To the noble gas configuration to achieve, the hydrogen atom and the chlorine atom form a polar atomic bond. So they can both have theirs noble gas configuration reach.

Hydrochloric Acid – Manufacturing

Production of hydrochloric acid in the laboratory

In the lab, you can get hydrochloric acid by concentrating sulfuric acid ( ) and Sodium chloride or common salt ( NaCl ) can react together:

You get sodium hydrogen sulfate (an acidic salt) and hydrogen chloride in gaseous Shape.

Then you have to HCl gas in water solve to the hydrochloric acid solution to finish:

Production of hydrochloric acid in industry

In the Industry another reaction is used – the chlorine detonating gas explosion. Here reacts hydrogen ( ) and chlorine ( ) to hydrogen chloride:

You can do that here too hydrogen chloride in again water solve and get the hydrochloric acid.

occurrence in nature

Hydrogen chloride can also be found in nature. For example in volcanic gases and in dilute solution in crater lakes. But also in us people we find hydrochloric acid – in the stomach acid. It comes in concentrations of 0.1 to 0.5% before. The hydrochloric acid solution causes, among other things, the hydrolysis of fats, but also serves to killing from Germinatebefore this in the further digestive system devices.

Hydrochloric Acid – Usage

Basically it can hydrochloric acid solution good to etching and soldering be used because base metals dissolve in acids with the formation of hydrogen. Where exactly the chemical industry found a benefit in hydrochloric acid you will now experience:

hydrochloric acid in the chemical industry

In chemical analysis: In analytical chemistry, hydrochloric acid is one of the most commonly used acids. As you will learn more about in a moment, hydrochloric acid can interact with some metals chlorides form (e.g. sodium chloride NaCl). As a result, they can metals (sodium) of to be separated from others. So you can then metals examine individually.

As a synthetic substance: You can make various other chemical substances from hydrochloric acid such as chlorides or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to win.

In the pharmaceutical industry: Some drugs are poorly soluble in water. Hydrochloric acid allows them to more soluble hydrochlorides to convert

As a cleaning agent: Hydrochloric acid becomes To clean from Lime residues used on tiles. So the hydrochloric acid solution is also used in everyday.

As a mordant: This is one of the most important tasks of hydrochloric acid pickling steelfor example rust to remove from it.

hydrochloric acid – Chemical burns and other dangers

If you work with hydrochloric acid, you should make sure that you use a protective clothing With safety goggles wear Because if you come into contact with the acid, it can damage your skin Chemical burns, redness, blisters and burning pain to lead. Also their fumes are lovely. Strong ones arise in the eyes irritation and irreparable acid burns.

In this case, eyes and skin should be treated with sufficient water be rinsed, you must also rinse your skin with one later rinse with diluted sodium carbonate solution. In any case, one should physician to be consulted.

Accidentally becomes hydrochloric acid swallowedit comes to strong acid burns in the throatthe esophagus and the stomach. These consequences can deadly end up!

For this reason it is also important that hydrochloric acid properly disposed of becomes. For that you have to use one lye (for example Caustic Soda NaOH) rule. This allows you to use the hydrochloric acid neutralize.

caustic soda and hydrochloric acid react to sodium chloride (table salt) and water.

Reactions with hydrochloric acid

Hydrogen chloride goes with many substances reactions a. Below we make a few examples:

hydrochloric acid with water

Since hydrochloric acid is one of the strong acids, it has the possibility in water almost completely dissociate (himself in ions columns). arise in the process chloride ions ( ) and Oxonium ions ( ):

hydrochloric acid and ammonia

Do you leave the hydrochloric acid with you? ammonia ( ) react, a white mist – the fumes of ammonia chloride ( ).

ammonia and hydrochloric acid react to ammonia chloride.

hydrochloric acid and lime

You can also see a reaction when you put hydrochloric acid on it calcium carbonatealso lime called, give:

Calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid react calcium chloride, water and carbon dioxide

The Salts of Hydrochloric Acid

Even the diluted acid likes to react base metals under formation of hydrogen and metal salts. This results in the salts of hydrochloric acid – the chlorides. One chloride you’re probably familiar with is this sodium chloride (NaCl), also known as table salt.

Sodium reacts with hydrochloric acid to form sodium chloride and hydrogen

A few more reactions for a better understanding base metals how Magnesium and Zinc: