What is Hydrochloric Acid? (HCl)

Hydrochloric acid is the compound hydrogen chloride (HCl) dissolved in water to form hydrogen and chloride ions. The ability for the chloride ion to hold a stable negative charge allows for the hydrogen proton to be donated to other compounds, thus making the HCl an acid. Without the HCl being dissolved in water, HCl is naturally a poisonous gas at room temperature. Hydrochloric acid is considered to be a strong acid because it is among the most ready compounds to deprotonate and donate hydrogens in solution.

Hydrochloric acid is also an extremely versatile chemical with usage in a multitude of industries. The main characteristics, besides being a strong acid, are that it is highly corrosive and a clear, odorless solution.

Industries and Applications of Hydrochloric Acid

  • Food and Beverage
    • Purifying table salt
    • Additives such as fructose, calcium chloride, citric acid, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein
  • Manufacturing
    • Leather
    • PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride)
    • Oil well production
    • Rock salt
    • Oil well production
  • Metal
  • Household Maintenance
  • Sanitation
    • Water Treatment
    • Regulate pH for production of drinking water, foods and pharmaceuticals
    • Pool Disinfectant

Fun Facts

These are some additional things you might not know about hydrochloric acid:

  • Hydrochloric acid is naturally produced by parietal cells in our bodies to help digest food in the stomach.
  • When hydrochloric acid comes in contact with water, it forms a gas called hydrogen chloride.
  • Muriatic acid, acidum salis, and spirits of salt are other names to describe hydrochloric acid.

Chemical Safety

Health Rating: 3 – The chemical has met Safer Choice Criteria for its functional ingredient class, but has some hazard profile issues. In other words, a chemical with this code is not associated with a low hazard concern for environmental endpoints and human health.

Store in a cool location and keep away from food and beverages. Practice proper hygiene when handling hydrochloric acid. As far as waste disposal, it is recommended that a licensed professional waste disposal service is contacted to prevent it from reaching a sewage system or open water.

Refer to this Safety Data Sheet for information on handling hydrochloric acid safely.

If you would like to purchase hydrochloric acid, contact Ecolink at (800)-563-1305 or email info@ecolink.com

If you have any further questions, submit an inquiry through our online form.