Hydrochloric acid is the water-based, or aqueous, solution of hydrogen chloride gas. It is also the main component of gastric acid, an acid produced naturally in the human stomach to help digest food. Hydrochloric acid is also synthetically produced for a variety of industrial and commercial applications and can be formed by a number of manufacturing processes, including dissolving hydrogen chloride gas in water.
Uses & Benefits
Hydrochloric acid is a strong, corrosive acid that can be used industrially to process steel used in the building and construction industry. It is used in the chemical industry in the large-scale production of vinyl chloride used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, and it is one of the chemicals that is used to produce polyurethane foam and calcium chloride.
Hydrochloric acid is also used to make many other chemicals and as a disinfectant and slimicide, a chemical that prevents the growth of slime in paper stock.
Other common end uses for hydrochloric acid include household cleaners, pool maintenance, and food manufacturing.
- Steel Production
Hydrochloric acid is used in pickling operations to remove rust and other impurities from carbon, alloy, and stainless steel, to prepare the steel for final applications in building and construction projects, and in products such as car bodies and household appliances. It is also used in aluminum etching and metal cleaning applications. - Household Cleaners
Hydrochloric acid can be an ingredient in household cleaners such as toilet bowl cleaners, bathroom tile cleaners, and other porcelain cleaners, due to its corrosive properties that help clean tough stains. - Pool Sanitation
Hydrochloric acid is used as a swimming pool treatment chemical, to help maintain an optimal pH in the water.
- Food Production and Processing
The food industry uses hydrochloric acid to process a variety of food products, such as corn syrups used in soft drinks, cookies, crackers, ketchup, and cereals. Hydrochloric acid is also used as an acidifier in sauces, vegetable juices, and canned goods, to help enhance flavor and reduce spoilage. - Calcium Chloride Production
When hydrochloric acid is mixed or reacted with limestone, it produces calcium chloride, a type of salt used to de-ice roads. Calcium chloride also has uses in food production as a stabilizer and firming agent, for example in baked goods, as well as uses as an antimicrobial. - Additional Uses
Hydrochloric acid is used in the production of batteries, photoflash bulbs, and fireworks. It is also used in leather processing, building and construction, oil well acidizing, and producing gelatin products.
