1 Key Points

Hydrogen Chloride Gas and Hydrochloric acid

1. Hydrogen chloride gas is prepared in the laboratory by heating
concentrated sulphuric acid with sodium chloride.
NaCl +H
2
SO
4

without heating
NaHSO
4
+HCl
NaHSO
4
+NaCl
heat
Na
2
SO
4
+HCl
2. Concentrated hydrochloric acid is prepared by dissolving HCl gas in
water by connecting delivery tube to an inverted funnel whose rim is
dipped in water. This kind of apparatus prevents back suction. HCl
gas stops dissolving in water when concentration of gas by weight in
water is 36%. It is also called constant boiling mixture for the
simple reason that any gas passed through 36% acid will bubble out.
3. Physical properties of HCl gas :
(i) It is a colourless gas which fumes strongly in air.
(ii) It is heavier than air (V.D. 18.25) and is extremely soluble in
water.
(iii) It has a sharp pungent smell.
(iv) It has a sour taste.
4. Physical Properties of hydrochloric acid :
(i) It is a colourless volatile acid which fumes strongly in air and
smells exactly like HCl gas.
(ii) Conc. hydrochloric acid contain 36% HCl gas by weight.
(iii) It causes painful blisters on the skin.
(iv) It marks the skin or wooden splint brown.
5. Chemical properties of hydrochloric acid :
1. It turns blue litmus red, methyl orange pink and phenolphthalein
solution colourless and hence is acidic in nature.
2. It reacts with metallic oxides to form metallic chlorides and
water.
CuO +2HCl (dil.) CuCl
2
+H
2
O



2 Key Points

3. It reacts with metallic hydroxides to form metallic chlorides and
water.
NaOH +HCl (dil.) NaCl +H
2
O
4. It reacts with metallic carbonates to form metallic chlorides,
carbon dioxide gas and water.
CaCO
3
+2HCl (dil.) CaCl
2
+CO
2
+H
2
O
5. It reacts with metallic sulphites to form metallic chlorides,
sulphur dioxide gas and water.
Na
2
SO
3
+2HCl (dil.) 2NaCl +H
2
O +SO
2
(g)
6. It reacts with metallic sulphides to form metallic chlorides and
H
2
S gas.
Na
2
S +2HCl (dil.) 2NaCl +H
2
S (g)
7. It reacts with thiosulphates to form metallic chloride, sulphur and
sulphur dioxide and water.
Na
2
S
2
O
3
+2HCl (dil.) 2NaCl +S +SO
2
+H
2
O
8. It reacts with metallic nitrites to form oxides of nitrogen.
2NaNO
2
+2HCl 2NaCl +NO +NO
2
+H
2
O
9. It reacts in concentrated form with metallic nitrates on boiling to
form their respective chlorides and nitric acid.
NaNO
3
+HCl
heat
NaCl +HNO
3

10. It reacts with ammonia gas to form dense white fumes of
ammonium chloride.
NH
3
+HCl NH
4
Cl (dense white fumes).
11. It reacts with silver nitrate solution to form curdy white
precipitate of silver chloride.
AgNO
3
+HCl HNO
3
+AgCl (curdy white ppt.)
6. Uses of hydrochloric acid :
1. It is used in the manufacture of glucose from starch.
2. It is used for the extraction of glue from the bones.
3. It is used in the manufacture of silver chloride, widely used in
photography.
4. It is used in the manufacture of dyes, drugs and paints.


3 Key Points

5. It is used for removing oxide coating from metal surface, and
hence is widely used in tin industry.
6. It is used in making aqua regia (3 parts of conc. HCl and 1 part of
conc. HNO
3
). It can dissolve royal metals such as gold and
platinum.