Hydrogen chloride

Hydrogen chloride is a colorless, corrosive molecular gas composed of hydrogen and chlorine atoms. Its dissolution in water produces hydrochloric acid.

Hydrogen chloride molecule: A diatomic molecule consisting of one hydrogen atom covalently bonded to one chlorine atom. The molecule’s polar H–Cl bond underlies its attraction to water and reactive character.
Covalent bond: A chemical bond formed when atoms share one or more pairs of electrons. Hydrogen and chlorine share electrons in the HCl molecule.
Hydrochloric acid production: The manufacture of aqueous hydrochloric acid, commonly by absorbing hydrogen chloride gas into water. Hydrogen chloride is the feed gas from which commercial hydrochloric acid is made.
Hydrogen fluoride: A diatomic compound of hydrogen and fluorine that forms hydrofluoric acid when dissolved in water. Hydrogen fluoride forms strong hydrogen bonds, unlike hydrogen chloride.
Hydrogen chloride ionization: The transfer of a proton from hydrogen chloride to a base, producing chloride and a protonated base. In water, this reaction accounts for hydrogen chloride’s strong acidity.
Electronegativity: A measure of an atom’s tendency to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond. Chlorine’s greater electronegativity makes the H–Cl bond strongly polar.
Chlor-alkali process: An industrial process that electrolyzes brine to produce chlorine, hydrogen, and sodium hydroxide. Its chlorine and hydrogen products can be combined to manufacture hydrogen chloride.
Hydrogen bromide: A diatomic compound of hydrogen and bromine that forms hydrobromic acid in water. It is a heavier hydrogen halide with closely related chemistry but different physical properties.
Hydrochloric acid: An aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride, containing hydrated hydrogen ions and chloride ions. Dissolving the gas in water converts it into this familiar acid.
Acid: A substance that donates protons or accepts electron pairs, depending on the acid–base theory used. Hydrogen chloride acts as a proton donor when it reacts with water.

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