Office: 01493 660800
Email: sales@chemtek.co.uk
Hydrochloric acid is a corrosive, strong mineral acid. Pure grades are usually colourless, Commercial grades can be pale-yellow. It has a pungent, irritating odour and higher concentrations will fume, particularly at low temperatures.
Hydrochloric acid is also called hydrogen chloride. It is an aqueous, colourless solution of the gas of the same name hydrogen chloride, which is characterized by a pungent odour. It is a strong, inorganic acid that belongs to the mineral acids. The molecular formula is HCI.
Hydrochloric acid is a component of the gastric juices of vertebrates, including humans. In the gastric acid of humans (at a concentration of 0.1% to 0.5%) and in that of animals, hydrochloric acid serves to kill germs. It also breaks down fats and creates the acidic environment of a healthy stomach in which the digestive enzyme pepsin can work optimally.
The salts of hydrochloric acid are found in large quantities in seawater and as rock salt; hydrochloric acid is also found in nature in volcanic gases and crater lakes. The salts of hydrochloric acid are called chlorides, of which sodium chloride (NaCl, table salt) is the best-known. Hydrochloric acid is an important chemical for industries and laboratories for many purposes.
We store our Hydrochloric Acid on-site at 36% purity and at various degrees of grades ready to blend and dilute to your exact requirements.
Hydrochloric acid is produced in the laboratory from sulfuric acid and sodium chloride (common salt). For industrial purposes, hydrogen chloride is produced from chlorine and hydrogen in a chlorine oxyhydrogen gas explosion.
Hydrochloric acid is excellent for removing rust from steel because metal oxides react with hydrochloric acid to form chlorides and water. It dissolves most metals, including precious metals. If hydrochloric acid is mixed with nitric acid, the so-called "aqua regia" is obtained, which even dissolves gold.
If the hydrochloric acid contains a lot of hydrogen chloride, an impressive optical effect occurs: the hydrochloric acid "smokes" - that is, it forms white mist as the hydrogen chloride gas escapes and then reacts with the water in the air to form hydrochloric acid again.
When hydrochloric acid is diluted, it conducts electricity.
Hydrochloric Acid has a wide range of applications across a variety of industries – examples below:
Storage and Supply
We have long-term contracts and agreements in place with UK and European producers and have import facilities in Gt Yarmouth. Find out more about our storage facilities and our custom fleet of vehicles for transport.
Speak with an expert
Connect with a Chemtek product expert to learn more about our offerings and see how we can assist you.
