Uses Of Hydrochloric Acid: Definition, Physical & Chemical Properties

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The aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid is popularly used for the neutralization of alkaline agents, bleaching agents, food, textile, metal, and rubber industries. This solution is also found in the digestive tract of most mammals.

Key Terms: Hydrogen, Chlorine, Chloride, Reaction, pH Level, Corrosive Acid, Acid, Base, Salt


What Is Hydrochloric Acid?

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Hydrochloric acid is a strong corrosive acid. The acid contains a light gas (hydrogen) and a greenish-yellow gas with a pungent smell (chlorine). It is normally found in a dilute form in gastric juice and is mostly used in industries and laboratories.

Hydrochloric acid is said to be a major component of gastric juice and is known as gastric acid. And hence used in both aqueous and gaseous forms.

Chemical Formula - HCl

Hydrochloric Acid

Hydrochloric Acid

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Uses Of Hydrochloric Acid

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The uses of hydrochloric acid are:

Hydrochloric Acid In Organic Compounds:

  • Hydrochloric acid is used for producing organic compounds like vinyl chloride and for plastics or polyvinyl chloride and many others.

Hydrochloric Acid In Inorganic Compounds:

  • The acid is used for preparing compounds that are further used as water treatment chemicals. 
  • Hydrochloric acid is also used to rinse the cations from the resins.

Hydrochloric Acid In Metal Stains: 

  • The corrosive nature of hydrochloric acid is used to remove stains or rust mostly from metals. 
  • It is also used in a diluted form. 
  • The acid is commonly used for cleaning tiles and disinfecting homes. 
  • In the textile industry hydrochloric acid is used for bleaching clothes and processing leather.

Hydrochloric Acid In Oil Production: 

  • Hydrochloric acid is used for oil production. 
  • Hydrochloric acid is injected into a rock.

Hydrochloric Acid In Purification of Table Salt & pH Control: 

  • Hydrochloric acid is used in the purification of table salts. 
  • Hydrochloric acid is also used for regulating the acidity (pH) of solutions 
  • Hydrochloric acid controls the pH of pharmaceutical products, foods, and water.

The Other Uses Of Hydrochloric Acid:

  • Hydrochloric acid is used for the production of glucose.
  • Hydrochloric acid is used in the refining of cane sugar.
  • Hydrochloric acid helps in the production of corn sugar from starch.
  • Hydrochloric acid is being used in the making of glue and gelatin
  • Hydrochloric acid is used even used in the manufacturing of synthetic rubber and plastics.
  • Hydrochloric acid is used in the manufacturing of aqua regia to dissolve noble metals such as gold and platinum.

Properties Of Hydrochloric Acid

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The physical properties of hydrochloric acid like boiling point, melting points, density, pH level and so on of hydrochloric acid, varies from one to another on the basis of the concentration of hydrochloric acid in water. The hydrochloric acid is colourless and has a high pungent odour.

The Chemical Properties Of Hydrochloric Acid are as specified:

  • Hydrochloric acid is a strong form of acid.
  • The hydrochloric acid is very corrosive and attacks various metals like mercury, gold, platinum, tantalum, and silver.
  • The hydrochloric acid is monoprotic and hence can release only one proton (H+).
  • The concentrated hydrochloric acid can easily dissolve metals and can form oxidized metal chlorides and hydrogen gas.
  • The hydrochloric acid is also non-corrosive in the presence of glass.

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Things To Remember

  • This solution is also found in the digestive tract of most mammals.
  • It is normally found in a dilute form in gastric juice and is mostly used in industries and laboratories.
  • Hydrochloric acid is also used to rinse the cations from the resins.
  • It is also used in a diluted form. 
  • The hydrochloric acid is also non-corrosive in the presence of glass.

Important PYQs Based On Hydrochloric Acid

  1. X Cl 2 Excess….  [VITEEE 2015]
  2. Which One Among The Following Does Not Have The…  [JEE Advanced 1983]
  3. Consider The Spectral Line Resulting From The…. [JEE Advanced 1983]
  4. Ch 3ch 2br Undergoes Wurtz Reaction We May Expect… 
  5. The Wavelength Of An Electron For Transition From….. [VITEEE 2016]
  6. When Same Amount Of Zinc Is Treated Separately…. [BITSAT 2013]
  7. Which Of The Following Statements Are Collect…  [KCET 2018]
  8. The Alkane That Gives Only One Mono Chloro Product… [NEET 2019]
  9. The Bleaching Action Of Chlorine Is Due To..... [NEET 1991]
  10. When Benzediazonium Chloride In Hydrochloric Acid… 
  11. Hcl Behaves As In The Reaction Hcl Hf H 2 Cl F… 
  12. When Hydrochloric Acid Is Added To Cobalt Nitrate… 
  13. The Ph Of 10 8 M Hcl Solution Is… [JEE Advanced 1982]
  14. The Boiling Point Of P Nitrophenol Is Higher Than…  [NEET 1994]
  15. The Correct Order Of Increasing Bond Angles In The… [NEET 2010]
  16. The Distance Between Two Adjacent Carbon Atoms Is…. [NEET 1994]
  17. The Weakest Among The Following Types Of Bond Is… [NEET 1994]
  18. Permanent Hardness Cannot Be Removed By… [KCET 2021]
  19. IUPAC Name Of C H 3 Ch Align C H 2 C H 3 Align C C…. [KEAM]
  20. The Boiling Point Of Methanol Is Greater Than Meth… [KEAM]

Sample Questions

Ques. What is hydrochloric acid? (3 Marks)

Ans. Hydrochloric acid is a strong corrosive acid. The acid contains a light gas (hydrogen) and a greenish-yellow gas with a pungent smell (chlorine). It is normally found in a dilute form in gastric juice and is mostly used in industries and laboratories. Hydrochloric acid is said to be a major component of gastric juice and is known as gastric acid. And hence used in both aqueous and gaseous forms.

The aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid is popularly used for the neutralization of alkaline agents, bleaching agents, food, textile, metal, and rubber industries. This solution is also found in the digestive tract of most mammals.

Ques. What are the general uses of hydrochloric acid? (3 Marks)

Ans. The general uses of hydrochloric acid are:

  • Hydrochloric acid is used for the production of glucose.
  • Hydrochloric acid is used in the refining of cane sugar.
  • Hydrochloric acid helps in the production of corn sugar from starch.
  • Hydrochloric acid is being used in the making of glue and gelatin
  • Hydrochloric acid is used even used in the manufacturing of synthetic rubber and plastics.

Ques. state the chemical and physical properties of hydrochloric acid. (4 Marks)

Ans. The physical properties of hydrochloric acid like boiling point, melting points, density, pH level and so on of hydrochloric acid, varies from one to another on the basis of the concentration of hydrochloric acid in water. The hydrochloric acid is colourless and has a high pungent odour.

The Chemical Properties Of Hydrochloric Acid is as specified:

  • Hydrochloric acid is a strong form of acid.
  • The hydrochloric acid is very corrosive and attacks various metals like mercury, gold, platinum, tantalum, and silver.
  • The hydrochloric acid is monoprotic and hence can release only one proton (H+).
  • The concentrated hydrochloric acid can easily dissolve metals and can form oxidized metal chlorides and hydrogen gas.
  • The hydrochloric acid is also non-corrosive in the presence of glass

Ques. Is hydrochloric acid considered a volatile acid? (2 Marks)

Ans. Hydrochloric acid is a volatile substance. The membrane distillation isolates the acid from its solutions.

Ques. List five major uses of hydrochloric acid. (3 Marks)

Ans. The five major uses of hydrochloric acid are:

  • Hydrochloric Acid In Organic Compounds
  • Hydrochloric Acid In Inorganic Compounds
  • Hydrochloric Acid In Metal Stains
  • Hydrochloric Acid In Oil Production
  • Hydrochloric Acid In Purification of Table Salt & pH Control

Ques. State the physical properties of hydrochloric acid? (2 Marks)

Ans. The physical properties of hydrochloric acid like boiling point, melting points, density, pH level and so on of hydrochloric acid, varies from one to another on the basis of the concentration of hydrochloric acid in water. The hydrochloric acid is colourless and has a high pungent odour.

Ques. Name three elements that react with hydrochloric acid. (3 Marks)

Ans. The three elements that react with hydrochloric acid are:

  • Alkali Metal
  • Aqua Regia
  • Alkaline Earth Metals

Ques. What is the use of hydrochloric acid in metal? (2 Marks)

Ans. The use of hydrochloric acid in metals are:

  • The corrosive nature of hydrochloric acid is used to remove stains or rust mostly from metals. 
  • It is also used in a diluted form. 
  • The acid is commonly used for cleaning tiles and disinfecting homes. 
  • In the textile industry hydrochloric acid is used for bleaching clothes and processing leather.

Ques. What are the chemical properties of hydrochloric acid? (5 Marks)

Ans. The Chemical Properties Of Hydrochloric Acid are as specified:

  • Hydrochloric acid is a strong form of acid.
  • The hydrochloric acid is very corrosive and attacks various metals like mercury, gold, platinum, tantalum, and silver.
  • The hydrochloric acid is monoprotic and hence can release only one proton (H+).
  • The concentrated hydrochloric acid can easily dissolve metals and can form oxidized metal chlorides and hydrogen gas.
  • The hydrochloric acid is also non-corrosive in the presence of glass

Ques. How does hydrochloric acid react when exposed to air? (3 Marks)

Ans. When hydrochloride is exposed to air, the gas forms dense white vapours due to condensation with atmospheric moisture. The vapor is corrosive, and air concentrations above 5 ppm cause irritation.

Ques. How is hydrochloric acid useful to humans? (5 Marks)

Ans. The uses of hydrochloric acid are: 

Hydrochloric Acid In Organic Compounds:

  • Hydrochloric acid is used for producing organic compounds like vinyl chloride and dichloromethane for plastics or polyvinyl chloride and many others.

Hydrochloric Acid In Inorganic Compounds

  • The acid is used for preparing compounds that are further used as water treatment chemicals. 
  • Hydrochloric acid is also used to rinse the cations from the resins.

Hydrochloric Acid In Metal Stains

  • The corrosive nature of hydrochloric acid is used to remove stains or rust mostly from metals. 
  • It is also used in a diluted form. 
  • The acid is commonly used for cleaning tiles and disinfecting homes. 
  • In the textile industry hydrochloric acid is used for bleaching clothes and processing leather.

Hydrochloric Acid In Oil Production: 

  • Hydrochloric acid is used for oil production. 
  • Hydrochloric acid is injected into a rock.

Hydrochloric Acid In Purification of Table Salt & pH Control: 

  • Hydrochloric acid is used in the purification of table salts. 
  • Hydrochloric acid is also used for regulating the acidity (pH) of solutions 
  • Hydrochloric Acid controls the pH of pharmaceutical products, foods, and water.

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