Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)

Engr. Muhammad Sajid

Lecturer
Department of Chemical Engineering
University of Gujrat, Pakistan
 Contents

Introduction
History
Properties
Production Process
Uses
Health Safety and Environment
 Introduction

Hydrochloric acid is a clear, colorless, highly pungent

solution of hydrogen chloride (HCl) in water. It is a
highly corrosive, strong mineral acid with many
industrial uses. Hydrochloric acid is found naturally in
gastric acid.
About 20 million tonnes of hydrochloric acid are
produced worldwide annually.
 introduction

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is listed as a Title III Hazardous Air Pollutant.

Hydrochloric acid is a versatile chemical used in a variety of chemical
processes, including hydrometallurgical processing (e. g., production of
alumina and/or titanium dioxide), chlorine dioxide synthesis, hydrogen
production, activation of petroleum wells, and miscellaneous
cleaning/etching operations including metal cleaning (e. g., steel pickling).
Also known as muriatic acid, HCl is used by masons to clean finished brick
work, is also a common ingredient in many reactions, and is the preferred
acid for catalyzing organic processes. One example is a carbohydrate
reaction promoted by hydrochloric acid, analogous to those in the
digestive tracts of mammals.
 history

It was historically called acidum salis, muriatic acid,

and spirits of salt because it was produced from rock
salt and green vitriol (by Basilius Valentinus in the 15th
century) and later from the chemically similar
substances common salt and sulfuric acid (by Johann
Rudolph Glauber in the 17th century). Free
hydrochloric acid was first formally described in the
16th century by Libavius. Later, it was used by
chemists such as Glauber, Priestley, and Davy in their
scientific research
 History

Aqua regia, a mixture consisting of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid,

prepared by dissolving sal ammoniac in nitric acid, was described in the
works of Pseudo-Geber, the 13th-century European alchemist.Other
references suggest that the first mention of aqua regia is in Byzantine
manuscripts dating to the end of th
Free hydrochloric acid was first formally described in the 16th century by
Libavius, who prepared it by heating salt in clay crucibles. Other authors
claim that pure hydrochloric acid was first discovered by the German
Benedictine monk Basil Valentine in the 15th century, by heating common
salt and green vitriol, whereas others claim that there is no clear
reference to the preparation of pure hydrochloric acid until the end of the
sixteenth centurye thirteenth century.
Appearance: Solubility:
colorless, fuming liquid infinite in water with
Odor:
slight
pungent odor evolution of heat
Boiling point: Vapor pressure:
53C (127F) 190 mm Hg @ 25C (77F)
Melting point: Density:
-74C (-101F)
1.18 (water = 1)
 Physical Properties
Its boiling, melting points, density and pH depends on
concentration of HCl in aqueous Solution.

M.P B.P Density Vapor Vapor F.P Storag Form Water

Density pressure e Solubility
Temp.
-35°C 57°C 1.2 g/mL at 1.3 vs air 613 psi -40°C 2-8°C Liquid Miscible
25 °C(lit.) 21.1°C
 Production Of HCl

Hydrochloric acid may be manufactured by several different

processes, although over 90 percent of the HCl produced in
the world is a byproduct of the chlorination reaction.
 Production Of HCl

Synthesis from elements (Burning Process)

Organic By-product Synthesis.
Metallic chlorides with Sulfuric acid.
Waste Incineration.
Thermal decompsition of hydrated heavy metals
 Organic by-product Synthesis
Hydrochloric acid is made during chlorination of organic
products as follows:
RH ₂ + Cl ₂ →RCl + HCl
Hydrochloric acid is also made during fluorination of
chlorinated organic products to manufacture (hydro)
chlorofluorocarbons as follows:
RCl + HF → RF + HCl
Where RCl stands for chloroform, trichloro ethane, etc and
RF stands for (hydro) chlorofluorocarbons
 Organic by-product Synthesis

Chlorination Gases Vent Gas

Chlorination HCl HCl & Cl2

Scrubber
Process Absorption

Dilute HCl

Concentrated HCL
 Sulfuric Acid Method
HCl is Generally made in Industries by the Action of
Sulphuric Acid on Common salt NaCl.

1) NaCl +H2S04 ------> NaHS04 +HCl

2) NaHS04 +NaCl -------> Na2S04 + HCl

These reactions may be carried out by heating the mixture

of salt and sulfuric acid either in an "open roaster," or in a
muffle or "close roaster." These are both called "salt-cake
furnaces."
 Organic Waste Incineration
Hydrochloric acid is made during Incineration, at high
temperatures, of chlorinated wastes as follows.

HCCl=CCI2 + 3.502+ CH4 3C02 + 3HCl + H20

HCCl=CCI2 + 1.502+ H20 2C02 + 3HCl

C4H6Cl2 + 5O2 4CO2 + 2HCl

Thermal decomposition of hydrated
heavy metal chlorides

HCl is also produced by thermal decomposition of

hydrated heavy metal chlorides from spent pickle
liquor in metal treatment as;

2FeCl3 + 6H2O Fe2O3 + 3H2O + 6HCl

 Burner Process
Chlorine and hydrogen react exothermally to form hydrogen
chloride gas as follows:

Cl₂+ H₂ → 2HCl

Both gases pass through a burner nozzle, and are ignited

inside a graphite combustion chamber, which is cooled by
water. The hydrogen chloride gas produced is cooled, and
absorbed into water to give hydrochloric acid at the desired
concentration.
Synthesis from elements
 Uses

For pickling Steel

For the manufacturing of PVC pipes
For the production of compounds that used in waste
water treatment
For manufacturing of Dyes and Fertilizers
It is used in textile and rubber industries
USES
Uses by Country
Health Safety & Environment
Concentrated hydrochloric acid (fuming hydrochloric acid) forms
acidic mists. Both the mist and the solution have a corrosive
effect on human tissue, with the potential to damage respiratory
organs, eyes, skin, and intestines irreversibly. Upon mixing
hydrochloric acid with common oxidizing chemicals, such as
sodium hypochlorite (bleach, NaClO) or potassium
permanganate (KMnO4), the toxic gas chlorine is produced.

NaClO + 2 HCl → H2O + NaCl + Cl2

2 KMnO4 + 16 HCl → 2 MnCl2 + 8 H2O + 2 KCl + 5 Cl2

PbO2 + 4 HCl → 2 H2O + PbCl2 + Cl2

Health Safety & Environment

Personal protective equipment such as latex gloves,

protective eye goggles, and chemical-resistant
clothing and shoes will minimize risks when handling
hydrochloric acid. The United States Environmental
Protection Agency rates and regulates hydrochloric
acid as a toxic substance.[36]

The UN number or DOT number is 1789. This number

will be displayed on a placard on the container.