what is hydrochloric acid?
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what is hydrochloric acid?
Hydrochloric acid is a corrosive, strong mineral acid with many industrial uses. A colorless, highly pungent solution of hydrogen chloride (HCl) in water, when it reacts with an organic base it forms a hydrochloride salt.
hcl was historically called acidum salis, muriatic acid, and spirits of salt because it was
produced from rock salt and green vitriol (by Basilius Valentinus in the 15th century) and later from the chemically similar common salt and sulfuric acid (by Johann Rudolph Glauber in the 17th
century). Free hydrochloric acid was first formally described in the 16th century by Libavius.
With major production starting in the Industrial Revolution, hcl is used in the chemical
industry as a chemical reagent in the large-scale production of vinyl chloride for PVC plastic, and MDI
and TDI for polyurethane. It has numerous smaller-scale applications, including household cleaning, production of gelatin and other food additives, descaling, and leather processing.
What Is Hydrochloric Acid Used For?
Hcl is an aqueous (water-based) solution of the gas, hydrogen chloride. It is a strong corrosive and has several applications.
Household cleaners
Due to its corrosive nature, hydrochloric acid or HCL is useful in cleaning tough stains. Hence, it is found in most household cleaners, such as:
- Toilet bowl cleaners
- Bathroom tile cleaners
- Porcelain cleaners
Food production and processing
The food industry used hydrochloric acid to process various food items, such as:
- Corn syrups used in soft drinks
- Cookies
- Crackers
- Ketchup
- Cereals
- Sauces
- Vegetable juices
- Canned goods
Building and construction industry
Hydrochloric acid is beneficial in removing rust and other impurities from:
- Carbon
- Alloy
- Stainless steel
Other applications of hydrochloric acid include:
- Aluminum etching
- Metal cleaning applications
Medical applications
Hydrochloric acid has various applications in the medical field. It is used as a:
- Tuberculocide (for disinfecting surfaces potentially contaminated by tuberculosis bacteria).
- Disinfectant.
- Sanitizer.
- Virucide.
- Fungicide.
- Microbicide (against slime-forming bacteria).
Hydrochloric acid is the main component of gastric juice.however, Excessive secretion of the acid causes gastric ulcers whereas significant deficiency of hydrochloric acid impairs the digestive process and sometimes causes iron deficiency anemia.
Production of chemicals
Hydrochloric acid is used to produce various chemicals, including:
- Chlorides
- Tin
- Vinyl chloride
- Phosphoric acid
- Ammonium chloride
- Calcium chloride
For the Production of Organic Compounds
Hydrochloric acid/Muriatic acid has several industrial applications and one such application is in the production of organic compounds such as dichloroethane and vinyl chloride for PVC. It is also used in the production of other organic compounds like bisphenol A, which is used in various pharmaceutical products.
swimming pool safety
Hydrochloric acid is one of the chemicals that play a role in keeping pH levels safe for swimmers in public and private pools.
Salt purification
When added to sodium chloride, HCL triggers a purification process that results is safe, useable table salt.
Pickling steel
Steelworkers use HCL for the pickling process, which removes rust from steel, both in coil and sheet form.
For regeneration of ion exchangers
It is used in the regeneration of ion exchange resins. It is used to rinse the cations from the resins. Demineralized water and ion exchangers are used in drinking water production, all chemical industries and many food industries.
For removing metal stains
It can clean iron, copper, brass and other metals; however, one should dilute it by adding 9 parts of water to 1 part of the acid. One should not use it directly on metals as it is extremely powerful cleaning agent.
Leather processing
Hydrochloric acid is one of the substances used in the leather tanning process. Tanneries use HCL to stop the development of bacteria and maintain the proper pH level of leather.
Regenerating ion exchangers
This is an important step in maintaining water safety. Essentially, HCL contributes to the process of removing ionized particles from water. Anyone who has purchased deionized water has benefited from the HCL’s role in the ion exchange process.
Use Our Hydrochloric Acid to Your Advantage
Also known as muriatic acid, HCl is a clear, colorless solution of hydrogen chloride in water, and is a strong, corrosive mineral acid. HCl is one of the most widely used chemicals in the world today, but among the more popular applications include:
- Steel
- Oil well acidizing
- Plastics
- Organic chemical synthesis
- Water and wastewater treatment
- Brine treatment
- Artificial sweeteners
- Food processing
- Ore and mineral processing
- Photography
- Textiles
- Rubber
Properties of Hydrochloric Acid
The molecular weight or molar mass of hydrochloric acid is 36.458 gmol. It appears as a transparent liquid Who is the boiling point and melting point depend on the concentration. Hydrogen chloride is a colourless gas that is highly odorous. Gaseous hydrogen chloride will respond to the chloride which forms by active metals and their hydroxide, carbonate, and oxides. In the presence of humidity, these reactions occur readily. Hydrogen chloride is unreactive as well as is completely dry.
In the presence of glass hydrochloric acid is non-corrosive. Hydrochloric acid is very corrosive and attacks metals like platinum, gold, silver, mercury, tantalum, etc. It can release only one proton as it is monoprotic.
It can completely disassociate to form hydrogen and chloride ion in water.
Is hydrochloric acid dangerous?
Hydrochloric acid is known as a toxic substance and is regulated. moreover, Acidic mist may contain condensed hydrochloric acid, known as hydrochloric acid fumes. Both this mist and the solution have a corrosive effect on human tissue, with the ability to irreversibly damage breathing organs, hair, skin, and intestines.
Is hydrochloric acid a compound?
Hydrogen chloride (HCl), a hydrogen and chlorine mixture of the elements, a gas at atmospheric temperature and pressure.
Safety Information
HCl in its concentrated, liquid form has a strong irritating odor and is very corrosive. It can cause damage, such as chemical burns, upon contact, according to the U.S. moreover, National Library of Medicine. moreover,The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that hydrochloric acid can cause eye damage, even blindness, if splashed in the eyes.
Ingestion of concentrated hcl can cause severe injury to the mouth, throat, esophagus and stomach. When using pool cleaners that contain hcl(also known as muriatic acid), it is important to follow directions on the product label for safe handling. The CDC has developed two posters with recommendations for pool chemical safety handling as well as storage of pool chemicals for pool owners and operators.
Physical properties
hcl is a solution of hydrogen chloride in water. Hydrogen chloride occurs as either a colourless liquid with a an irritating, pungent odour, or a colourless to slightly yellow gas which can be
shipped as a liquefied compressed gas; highly soluble in water.
Melting Point: -114.24°C
Boiling Point: -85.06°C
Specific Gravity: 1.2
Vapour Density: 1.268
1 ppm = 1.49 mg/m3
Chemical properties
Contact with metals produces hydrogen gas, which creates the chance of an explosion.
It produces poisonous gas, including chlorine, in a fire. moreover, And moreover, It is soluble in benzene, alcohol, and ether; it is insoluble in hydrocarbons, and incompatible or reactive with metals, hydroxides, amines, and alkalis.
Hydrochloric acid’s fumes have an acid, penetrating odour. moreover, Aqueous solutions of hcl attack and corrode nearly all metals, except mercury, silver, gold, platinum, tantalum, and certain alloys.
How Do you Effectively Store Hydrochloric Acid?
Poly Processing provides a complete chemical storage tank system for all the industries mentioned above and more, and our storage tanks are certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 61.
This is a set of standards that relates to water treatment as well as the stringent requirements for the control of equipment used in water products and potable water. Since correct storage methods are so important, we offer various storage tank systems to best meet your needs, depending on where it is
stored and what it is used for.
It’s important to ensure that your chemical storage solution meets the correct set of standards for your specific application.
Because HCl is highly corrosive, we recommend specific tank safeguards. moreover, In the event of a chemical spill, secondary containment is critical for preventing damage to equipment or putting employees at risk.moreover, A SAFE-Tank system is a tank-within-a-tank that can contain a spill should the primary chemical storage tank become compromised. This design is ideal for hydrochloric acid and mitigating the risk of damage in the event of a chemical spill.
There are also specific tank fittings available for HCl tanks that negate the chemical’s exposure to metals, which may corrode and fail over time.
Hazards of Hydrochloric Acid
The acid is corrosive and concentrates forms release acidic mists that are dangerous.moreover, If we inhale a small amount of hcl, it will result in the nose, Eye, Respiratory Tract irritation,
and inflammation in humans, there may be damage to mucus membranes, stomach as a result of oral exposure. Whereas, continuous exposure can lead to chronic bronchitis, gastritis, etc. Hence the use of personal protective equipment is essential.
Skin contact- if HCl comes in contact with skin, we must flush immediately with water for at least 15 minutes and remove the contaminated clothing. If it is a case of serious skin contact, we must use water, antibacterial cream, and disinfectant soap and furthermore seek immediate medical attention.
Eye contact- we must immediately flush with plenty of water for a minimum of 15 minutes and move forward for immediate medical attention.
Inhalation- if we inhale hcl vapours then look for fresh air and medical attention immediately.
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