Hydrochloric Acid Formula: Structure, Properties, Applications, and Sample Questions
Hydrogen (H) has unique qualities that distinguish it from other elements on our planet. This one-of-a-kind component accounts for around 66 percent of the mass in our Universe. It is both electropositive and electronegative due to the presence of hydrogen particles H+ and hydride particles H– in its structure. Hydrogen compounds are the primary oxidants for some synthetic substances in the air and are linked to the patterns of many different substance families. Hydrogen is used to create ammonia (NH3).
Chlorine (Cl) is a gas that is greenish-yellow in colour. It has a strong stench-like odour. It has a melting point of 171.6K and a boiling point of 239.11K. The gas is detrimental to the environment since it is 2-5 times denser than air. It has the atomic number 17. It is the second lightest halogen in the periodic table. It contains two stable isotopes. Chlorine can be bleached by the oxidation process, but it requires moisture to do it. When chlorine reacts with water, it produces hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid.
The Hydrochloric Acid Formula
Hydrogen and chlorine are the two elements found in hydrochloric acid. Its chemical formula is as follows:
H++Cl- → HCl
Molecular structure of Hydrochloric acid’s
The hydrogen atom is covalently linked to the chlorine atom and has a planar structure. The structure of muriatic acid or hydrochloric acid is expressed as,
Preparation of Hydrochloric acid
Heat Sodium Chloride (NaCl) with strong sulfuric acid to get hydrochloric acid (H2SO4). The gas can be dried by passing it through a sulfuric acid solution.
NaCl + H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + HCl
NaHSO4 + NaCl → Na2SO4+ HCl
Physical Properties of Hydrochloric Acid
1.Hydrochloric acid has an atomic weight of 36.458 g/mol.
2 It is a colourless liquid.
3.The boiling and melting points of HCl are affected by its concentration.
4.Hydrogen chloride is a colourless gas with a pungent odour.
5.The chloride generated by active metals and their hydroxide, carbonate, and oxides will react with gaseous hydrogen chloride. Hydrogen chloride is both inactive and completely dry.
7.Hydrochloric acid is made up of acids, similar to how hydrogen gas is presented in metal reactions.
8.Glass hydrochloric acid is not corrosive. Hydrochloric corrosive is extremely corrosive and attacks metals such as platinum, gold, silver, mercury, tantalum, and so on.
9.As it is monoprotic, it can only deliver a single proton.
10.It has the ability to completely dissociate to form hydrogen and chloride particles in water.
Chemical Properties of Hydrochloric acid’s (HCl)
When HCl is mixed with potassium permanganate (KMnO4) or potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), chlorine gas is produced.
2KMnO4 + 16 HCl → 2KCl + 2MnCl2 + 5Cl2 + 8H2O
2K2Cr2O7 + 14 HCl → 2KCl + 2CrCl3+ 3Cl2 + 7H2O
When hydrochloric acid reacts with salts such as carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, and sulfites, it creates carbon dioxide gas and sulphur dioxide gas.
Na2CO3 + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H2O + CO2
NaHCO3 + HCl → NaCl+ H2O+CO2
Aqua regia is a mixture of concentrated HCl and concentrated HNO3 in a 3:1 by volume ratio.
When HCl dissolves metals such as gold and platinum, the metals’ soluble chloride is formed.
Applications of Hydrochloric acid
1.Table salt purification and pH control: This acid refines table salt. It is also useful in regulating the acidity of solutions, and it is also used to manage the pH of pharmaceuticals, drugs, water, and food kinds.
2.Oil production: Hydrochloric acid is poured into a rock stone, causing the rock stone’s response to create large-pore structures. This has a significant impact on oil production.
3.Cleaning solution: Because of its corrosive nature, hydrophilic acid is useful as a chemical that aids in the removal of spots or rust from metals such as copper and iron. It is used to clean tiles in bathrooms and kitchens, and it is also a sanitising expert.
4.Pickling of steel: This is a procedure in which diluted hydrochloric acid is used to remove rust or iron oxide from steel or iron before it is processed into wire, sheet and strip coating, and tin milling goods.
5.Organic compounds: HCl is employed in the manufacture of organic mixes such as vinyl chloride and dichloromethane, both of which aid in the production of PVC. It also manufactures organic substances such as ascorbic acid and pharmaceuticals.
6.Inorganic compounds: HCl is beneficial in the development of combinations that can be used as synthetic water treatment agents. Polyaluminium chloride (PAC), ferric acid, and aluminium carbohydrates, for example, are employed in water treatment. It is also utilised in the regeneration of ion-exchange resins.
7.Gastric Acid: Hydrochloric acid is a necessary component of gastric juice in the body that aids in digestion. Dormant pepsinogen is converted into dynamic pepsin in the stomach by hydrochloric acid, which aids assimilation by disrupting the links that connect amino acids. This reaction is known as proteolysis.
Conclusion
We conclude that the main component of the gastric juices produced in the stomach is hydrochloric acid, which maintains the stomach pH of 1 to 2 by acidifying the stomach contents. Hydrochloric acid serves as a barrier against invading bacteria and aids in infection prevention.