Hydrogen Chloride (HCl)

Preparation of Hydrogen Chloride:

It is prepared by heating sodium chloride with concentrated sulphuric acid.

Properties of Hydrogen Chloride:

• HCl is a colourless gas with a pungent odour.
• It is extremely soluble in water
• It decomposes salts of weaker acids.
• It has a pungent suffocating smell.
• The gas fumes in moist air.
• It is heavier than air (vapour density is 18.25). it is easily liquefied to a colourless liquid (b.p. 189 K) and freezes to a white crystalline solid (f.p. 159 K).
• Its b.p is 189 K and m.p. is 159 K.

Uses of Hydrogen Chloride:

• Hydrogen chloride is used in medicine and as a laboratory reagent.
• It is used in the manufacture of chlorine, NH₄Cl and glucose.