Study of Compounds – Hydrogen Chloride
Hydrogen Chloride
Molecular formula: HCl
Molecular mass: 36.5 amu
Bond: Covalent
Lewis structure Orbital diagram
General Preparation of HCl gas
i. By synthesis
Moist hydrogen gas combines with chlorine in the presence of diffused sunlight.
ii. By heating metallic chloride with conc. sulphuric acid
Laboratory Preparation of Hydrogen Chloride
Hydrogen chloride gas is prepared by heating a metallic chloride (NaCl) with conc. sulphuric acid (H 2SO4).
Reactions:
Collection
Hydrogen chloride gas is collected by the upward displacement of air as it is 1.28 times heavier than
air.
It is not collected over water because it is highly soluble in water.
Physical Properties
Colourless, pungent, choking odour, slight sour taste.
It is 1.28 times heavier than water and highly soluble in water.
Liquefies at temperature of about 10°C at 40 atmospheric pressure.
Boiling point is −83°C, and freezing point is −113°C.
Chemical Properties of HCl
1. Combustibility: The gas is neither combustible nor a supporter of combustion.
2. Thermal dissociation: On heating above 500°C, it dissociates into hydrogen and chlorine.
3. With metals: Metals which come before hydrogen in the electrochemical series form chlorides with
the liberation of hydrogen.
Zn + 2HCl ZnCl2 + H2 (g)
4. Reaction with ammonia: It combines with ammonia to form dense white fumes of ammonium
chloride.
NH3 (g) + HCl (g) NH4Cl
Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrochloric acid is prepared by dissolving hydrogen chloride gas in water using a special funnel
arrangement because direct absorption of HCl gas in water using a delivery tube causes back suction.
Properties of Hydrochloric Acid
Physical Properties
Colourless, slightly pungent with sharp sour taste.
Corrosive in nature and causes blisters on the skin.
Density is 1.2 gm/cc with boiling point of 110°C.
Chemical Properties
Monobasic in nature
HCl dissociates in aqueous solution to produce one hydrogen ion [H+] per molecule of the acid.
HCl + H2O H3O+ + Cl−
Acidic nature
The presence of hydrogen ion [H+] in HCl imparts acidic properties to an aqueous solution of
hydrochloric acid.
Action on metals
Ca + 2HCl CaCl2 + H2
Mg + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2
Action on oxides and hydroxides
MgO + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2O
Ca (OH)2 + 2HCl CaCl2 + H2O
With salts of weaker acids
Na2CO3 + 2HCl 2NaCl + H2O + CO2
NaHCO3 + HCl NaCl + H2O + CO2
Na2SO3 + 2HCl 2NaCl + H2O + SO2
NaHSO3 + HCl
NaCl + H2O + SO2
Na2S + 2HCl
2NaCl + H2S
Action on thiosulphates
Na2SO3 + 2HCl 2NaCl + H2O + SO2 + S
Reaction with nitrates
AgNO3 + HCl AgCl + HNO3
Oxidation of Hydrochloric Acid
MnO2 + 4HCl MnCl2 + 2H2O + Cl2
K2Cr2O7 + 14HCl 2KCl + 2CrCl3 + 7H2O + 3Cl2
2KMnO4 + 16HCl 2KCl + 2MnCl2 + 8H2O + 5Cl2
Pb3O4 + 8HCl 3 PbCl2 + 4H2O + Cl2
Formation of Aqua Regia
Aqua regia is a mixture of one part of conc. nitric acid and three parts of conc. hydrochloric acid.
HNO3 + 3HCl NOCl + 2H2O + 2[Cl]
The nascent chlorine released reacts with noble metals such as gold and platinum to give their soluble
chlorides.
Au + 3[Cl] AuCl3
Pt + 4[Cl]
PtCl4
Uses of Hydrochloric Acid
a. In the manufacture of dyes, drugs, paints and silver chloride.
b. For purifying bone black, because HCl dissolves the calcium phosphate present in bones.
c. To remove rust from iron sheets.