A Brief Note on Uses of Hydrochloric Acid

The most common name for hydrochloric acid is muriatic acid. When hydrochloric acid gas dissolves in water, hydrochloric acid is produced. This hydrochloric acid is very volatile and strong, having a pungent smell. With the membrane process, distilled hydrochloric acid is isolated from water. Hydrochloric acid is an essential laboratory substance, and in its gaseous form, it is colourless. It exists in the human body as a component that helps in gastric secretion. For preparing various chemical compounds, there are extensive uses of hydrochloric acid.

Uses of Hydrochloric Acid

If hydrochloric acid is protonated with chloride and water, then salt is produced. It has extensive uses in different fields. The uses of hydrochloric acid are discussed below:

• Oil production: When hydrochloric acid is put into a rock, then large pore structures are formed due to the reaction of the rock. This property of hydrochloric acid is useful in the production of oil.
• Preserving steel: When hydrochloric acid is diluted, one can use it for rust removal or iron oxide and the production of sheet, wire, and strip coating or removing iron oxide from steel and tin products.
• Table salt purification and pH Control: Hydrochloric acid purifies table salts. It is also used for pH control for all pharmaceutical products, foods, and water. Further, for acidity solutions regulation and so on, hydrochloric acid is used. 
• Production of Organic Compounds: Hydrochloric acid is useful for the production of organic compounds: for instance, dichloromethane and vinyl chloride. These two organic compounds are useful for producing PVC. A lot of organic products such as pharmaceutical products and ascorbic acid are also produced from hydrochloric acid.
• Production of Inorganic Compounds: Hydrochloric acid is used for the production of inorganic compounds used as chemicals for water treatment. For example, ferric acid, polyaluminium chloride(PAC), and aluminium carbohydrate are used for water treatment.
• Removing metal stains: Hydrochloric acid has a high corrosive nature; hence, it can be used as a chemical that helps in removing metal stains or rust from metals such as iron and copper. It is very helpful in its diluted form. 
• It can also be used for cleaning bathroom and kitchen tiles. Hydrochloric acid can also be used as a disinfecting agent.
•  In all the textile agencies, hydrochloric acid is used for cloth bleaching and processing. If any swimming pool’s pH level is high, hydrochloric acid is used to neutralise it.
• Preparing aqua regia: When you mix concentrated hydrochloric acid and concentrated nitric acid in a ratio of 3:1, a yellow fuming liquid is made,  known as aqua regia. It helps dissolve noble metals such as gold and platinum. Aqua regia is used for making and cleaning jewellery.
• Cleaning properties: Hydrochloric acid is very powerful, and hence it is used for cleaning. It helps to clean bricks, tiles, etc. It is also used in chlorine dioxide gas manufacturing. Chlorine dioxide is an extremely powerful disinfectant.
• Chemical treatment in wastewater: Hydrochloric acid is highly corrosive, and therefore it is used for salt removal in water. In wastewater, it is like an emulsion breaker.
• Charging batteries: This is a powerful acid that separates to yield ions, which are known as the charge carrier in the battery. These ions help in generating current by completing the circuit.
• Functions as a Gastric Acid:  Hydrochloric acid has a very important part in gastric juice, and it helps digestion. Through hydrochloric acid, inactive pepsinogen converts into active pepsin in the stomach, and this helps in digestion by breaking the bonds of the amino acids. This is the process known as proteolysis.

Conclusion

This article discussed the various uses of hydrochloric acid. It is also known as muriatic acid. One very interesting fact about hydrochloric acid is that it helps in human digestion through the process known as proteolysis. 

Other important uses of hydrochloric acid include the production of organic compounds as well as the production of inorganic compounds, salt purification, removing metal stains and cleaning properties, etc.