The biosphere is rich in its species diversity. Scientists study it from cells to entire ecosystems. Each cell consists of smaller particles that perform different functions. However, without the existence of chemicals, the normal functioning of living organisms would not have been possible. An important role is played by such classes of compounds as bases and acids. The latter also include hydrochloric acid, known by the formula HCL. For example, KI is the formula of a substance with an ionic bond, HCL is a covalent polar formula.
Brief information
The trivial name for HCL is hydrochloric acid. In another way, it is also called hydrochloric acid. This is a very strong monobasic inorganic substance, demanded in any production. The class of HCL is acid. In its pure form, it is liquid, colorless and odorless. If the acid has a yellow tint, then there are impurities in it.
Hydrogen vapors released from this substance form an acid mist with moist air, which is why HCL is called “fuming”. Hydrochloric acid has a molecular crystal lattice; therefore, between the molecules of a substance with the HCl formula is not an ionic bond, but a covalent polar one.
Safety rules when working with hydrochloric acid
Hydrochloric acid is very dangerous: it can cause burns on the skin, corrodes organic substances and metals, therefore it is necessary to strictly observe safety rules when working with it. The laboratory chemist should always wear protective clothing, rubber gloves and a mask to protect the eyes from direct contact with even the vapor of the substance.
If the acid accidentally spills, you need to neutralize it with alkali (sodium and potassium hydroxides) and rinse with plenty of water. Moving HCl is recommended in a glass or plastic container, which should be hermetically sealed.
History
The name of the substance HCl (hydrochloric acid) was first mentioned in 1595 by a German physician and chemist Libavius Andreas in his book “Alchemy”, and in the 17th century the monk-alchemist Vasily Valentin spoke about it. At that time, a mixture of table salt (sodium chloride), iron sulfate and alum was distilled to produce hydrochloric acid for craft and alchemical purposes.
The German chemist Johann Rudolph Glauber took a closer look at the name of the substance HCl. He proposed a method for producing this substance from sodium chloride and sulfuric acid. The chemist also recommended using this acid instead of vinegar in dishes.
Getting
In production, hydrochloric acid is obtained from gaseous HCl (a synthetic method for producing hydrochloric acid). A substance called HCl is also obtained by reacting hydrogen with chlorine at elevated temperatures.
The reaction of sodium chloride and concentrated sulfuric acid also produces hydrochloric acid (a hydrosulfate method for producing acid in the laboratory). However, if sodium chloride is taken in solid form, then volatile hydrogen chloride is obtained, which must be dissolved in water in order to obtain complete hydrochloric acid.
What substances does HCL react with?
HCl reacts actively:
- With metals standing up to hydrogen in the electrochemical series of voltages.
- With metal oxides to form salt and water.
- With metal hydroxides also with the formation of salt and water.
- With weaker acids: nitrous, sulphurous, carbonic, etc.
- With silver nitrate. In this case, a white curd precipitate of silver chloride is formed. This reaction is qualitative and serves to determine hydrochloric acid in solution.
- With salts, provided that precipitation or gas is released.
Application
Since hydrochloric acid is a high-quality and relatively cheap and affordable substance, it is widely used not only in laboratories, but also in everyday life. It can easily save plumbing from rust and limescale. Sometimes an inhibitor is added to it - a substance that slows down the reaction process so that the cleaning effect is more noticeable. Hydrochloric acid can also help get rid of bright spots on the fabric. After applying this substance to the fabric, rinse it thoroughly and wash it so that the acid does not corrode the material due to its causticity. Recently, hydrochloric acid is widely used to remove scale from the kettle, which is very useful for housewives. Moreover, hydrochloric acid is present in the human stomach, helping to process the food that enters there.