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Hydrochloric Acid| Formula, Properties, & Uses

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Hydrochloric acid (HCL) is a water-based, or aqueous, solution of hydrogen chloride gas. It is also the primary component of gastric acid, an acid generated spontaneously in the human stomach to aid digestion.
Furthermore, HCL is also synthesized for a range of industrial and commercial uses, and it may be generated using a variety of production procedures, including dissolving hydrogen chloride gas in water.

What is Hydrochloric Acid?

Hydrochloric acid is a chemical compound that is made up of inorganic elements. It has a colorless appearance and is used in labs to make aqueous-based solutions.
Hydrochloric acid is a white liquid with a strong odor. It is frequently used in chemistry laboratories at high schools and universities in the form of an aqueous solution.
When present in high quantities, this chemical exists as a liquid and also produces vapors.
Hydrochloric acid has a molecular mass of 36.46 g/mol.

Compound NameHydrochloric acid (HCL)
ColorColorless liquid
Molar mass 36.458 g/mol
Density1.2 g/mL
OdorPungent order

Is HCl Polar or Nonpolar?

HCl (hydrochloric acid) is a polar molecule because chlorine is more electronegative than hydrogen, it pulls the bound electron pair somewhat closer to it and gets a partial negative charge, whereas hydrogen gains a partial positive charge. The dipole moment of HCl is 1.03 D.

HCL Intermolecular Forces

In HCl, two intermolecular interactions exist, dipole-dipole and London dispersion forces. The dipole-dipole forces are the stronger of the two. The dipole-dipole forces are caused by the dipole of the H-Cl bond (as Cl is more electronegative than H).

Molar Mass of HCl

Hydrogen molar mass = 1.00794 g/mol.
The molar mass of chlorine = 35.45 g/mol 
Molar mass of HCl = 36.458 g/mol

Is Hydrochloric acid a strong acid?

Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid because it dissociates almost entirely. A weak acid, such as acetic acid (CH3COOH), does not dissociate effectively in water; many H+ ions stay linked up within the molecule. In short, the stronger the acid, the more free H+ ions are liberated into the solution.

Summary

  • The answer to the question ” Is HCL polar or nonpolar?” is that HCL is a polar molecule.
  • Hydrochloric acid is a white liquid with a strong odor.
  • HCL is used is utilized in the manufacture of chlorides, fertilizer, and dyes.

Hydrochloric Acid Hazards

The eyes, skin, and hydrochloric acid are corrosive to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes.  In humans, acute (short-term) inhalation exposure can cause irritation and inflammation of the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract, as well as pulmonary edoema.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is chlorine a metal?

Chlorine (Cl) is a nonmetal.
Chlorine is the second lightest member of the halogen elements or Group 17 (Group VIIa) of the periodic table. Please refer to the full article “Is chlorine a metal?”.

2. What is nitric acid?

Nitric acid (HNO3) is a colorless, fuming, and extremely corrosive liquid that is used as a laboratory reagent and a significant industrial chemical in the production of fertilizers and explosives

3. What is ammonium nitrate?

Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) is a fertilizer salt composed of ammonia and nitric acid. Commercial-grade NH4NO3 contains around 33.5 percent nitrogen, all of which are in plant-utilizable forms; it is the most common nitrogenous component of synthetic fertilizers.

4. What is acetylation?

In an acetylation process, the hydrogen atom of an alcohol group is replaced with an acetyl group, resulting in the formation of an ester.

5. What is ph of distilled water?

Distilled water has a pH of 7, making it neither acidic nor alkaline. Due to its great purity, distilled water is particularly environmentally sensitive, and even a tiny quantity of carbon dioxide from the air can cause it to turn somewhat acidic.

6. What is hydrogen bonding?

The hydrogen bond (H-bond) interaction is a dipole-dipole interaction. It is not a genuine chemical link.
It occurs when a hydrogen (H) atom connected to a highly electronegative atom (fluorine, nitrogen, or oxygen) resides near another electronegative atom with a single pair of electrons.

7. What are ionic compounds?

Ionic compounds are made up of ions, which are charged particles generated when an atom (or group of atoms) gains or loses electrons. (A cation is a positively charged ion, whereas an anion is a negatively charged ion.) Covalent or molecular compounds, on the other hand, develop when components share electrons in a covalent link to create molecules.

8. What are chemical reactions?

Chemical reactions include the breaking of chemical bonds between reactant molecules (particles) and the formation of new bonds between atoms in product particles.

More Links

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Umair Javaid, PhD Student
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