Introduction to Hydrogen-Chloride Acid and Chlorine
In Chemistry, even though Chlorine and Hydrogen Chloride is given as different elements, we always tend to study them together. They both share a closer relationship. For example, most of the HCl is produced as a co-product of the reactions by involving chlorine. Therefore, basically, this makes it desirable to consider both the chemical substances together. As being said, let us look at the methods for the preparation of Chlorine and Hydrogen Chloride.
Hydrogen Chloride
Firstly, Hydrogen Chloride was prepared in 1648 by Glauber by the process of heating sodium chloride with the concentrated H2SO4. Whereas, in 1840, Davy explained that HCl is a compound mixed with hydrogen and chlorine. The hydrochloric acid common name is given as muriatic acid.
Production of Hydrogen Chloride
Most of the hydrogen chloride produced on an industrial scale can be used for hydrochloric acid production.
Direct Synthesis
Very pure hydrogen chloride can be produced by combining the chlorine and hydrogen. The chemical reaction for the same is given as follows:
Cl2 + H2 → 2 HCl
Since the reaction is exothermic, we can refer to the installation as either an HCl burner or an HCl oven. The resultant hydrogen chloride gas can be absorbed in deionized water by resulting in the chemically pure hydrochloric acid. Also, this reaction gives a very pure product, for example, for the food industry usage.
Organic Synthesis
Hydrogen chloride’s industrial production is often integrated by forming fluorinated and chlorinated organic compounds, For example, Freon, Teflon, and other CFCs and chloroacetic acid, PVC well, etc. The production of hydrochloric acid is often integrated with its captive on-site use. In the case of chemical reactions, hydrogen atoms present on the hydrocarbon can be replaced by the chlorine atoms, whereupon the hydrogen atom which is released recombines with the spare atom from the chlorine molecule by forming the hydrogen chloride. Fluorination is given as a subsequent reaction of chlorine-replacement by producing again hydrogen chloride, where the chemical reaction can be given as follows:
R−H + Cl2 → R−Cl + HCl
R−Cl + HF → R−F + HCl
The resultant hydrogen chloride can be either absorbed in water or reused directly, resulting in hydrochloric acid of industrial or technical grade.
Properties of Hydrogen Chloride
HCl has a pungent aroma, and it is an uncoloured gas.
Hydrochloric acid is given as the aqueous solution of the hydrogen chloride.
HCl is soluble in water.
It liquefies at a temperature of 189K to produce a colourless liquid and freezes at a temperature of 159k to produce a white solid.
Uses of Hydrogen Chloride Gas
HCl can be used in the preparation of aqua regia, chlorine, including other chlorides.
It can also act as a reagent in laboratories.
It can be used as a solvent to dissolve noble gases.
Chlorine
Chlorine holds an atomic number 35, and in the periodic table, this compound occupies group 17 and period 3. The chemistry behind chlorine plays a key role in meeting the everyday requirements. Scientists around the world are working on the advancements in modern medicines and renewable energies. In 1774, Scheele discovered the presence of this greenish-yellow gas by noticing the HCl action on MnO2. This particular gas was not given a name until Davy had rooted its elementary description and recommended the name according to the colour of the gas.
Preparation of Cl2
The chlorine gas can be prepared using any of the following processes:
When the Manganese dioxide is heated with concentrated HCl. The reaction is given as follows:
MnO2 + 4HCl → MnCl2 + Cl2+ 2H2O
Concentrated HCl acid is replaced by a combination of common salt and concentrated H2SO4. The reaction is given as follows:
4NaCl + MnO2 + H2SO4 → MnCl2 + 4NaHSO4 + 2H2O + Cl2
HCl in action with pottasium permanganate results in the following reaction:
2KMnO4 + 16HCl → 2KCl + 2MnCl2 + 8H2O + 5Cl2
Other Processes to Prepare Chlorine
Deacon’s Method: In this specific method, Cl2 is obtained by oxidizing the HCl gases with oxygen in the catalyst presence. CuCl2 also acts as a catalyst at 723k in this process.
Electrolytic Process: In this particular process, brine undergoes electrolysis. Brine is defined as a concentrated solution of sodium chloride. After the process of electrolysis, Cl2 is discharged at the anode.
Properties of Cl2
Cl2 is given as a gas having a pungent odour and greenish-yellow colouration.
The gas nature is poisonous.
This gas boils at a temperature of 239.11K and melts at a temperature of 171.6K.
Chlorine water can be produced when Cl2 is dissolved in water. The yellow colour of the water becomes dissipated when exposed to the sunlight because of HCl and hypochlorous acid formation. This particular hypochlorous acid, which is formed, is unstable, and hence it decomposes to form nascent oxygen, which is responsible for oxidizing and bleaching action of Cl2.
Cl2 + → H2O (sunlight) HCl + HOCl
2HOCl + 2HCl → 2[O]
Cl2 is also highly electronegative in nature
Cl2 gas contains a great affinity towards hydrogen, and it reacts with hydrogen to produce HCl.
FAQs on Hydrogen Chloride
1. Give the Safety Factors of Hydrogen Chloride.
Answer: Hydrogen chloride produces corrosive hydrochloric acid in contact with water, which is found in body tissue. The fumes' intake can cause choking, coughing, upper respiratory tract, nose and throat inflammation. In severe cases, it leads to circulatory system failure, pulmonary edema, and death. Also, it’s skin contact can cause pain, redness, including severe chemical burns. Hydrogen chloride can also cause severe burns to the eye and permanent eye damage.
2. List the Applications of Hydrogen Chloride?
Answer: Most of the hydrogen chloride can be used in the production of hydrochloric acid. It is also an essential reagent in other industrial chemical transformations. For example:
Production of alkyl and vinyl chlorides,
Hydrochlorination of rubber.
The semiconductor industries can be used to purify silicon via trichlorosilane (SiHCl3) and etch semiconductor crystals.
3. What is Hydrogen Chloride?
Answer: Hydrogen chloride contains the chemical formula HCl, and it is such as a hydrogen halide. It is a colourless gas at room temperature that creates white fumes of hydrochloric acid when in contact with ambient water vapour. Hydrochloric acid and Hydrogen chloride gas are important in industry and technology. Hydrochloric acid, which is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride, is also given the formula HCl.
4. Explain If Hydrogen Chloride is Polar.
Answer: Yes, hydrogen chloride is polar. It has a slight positive charge, and chlorine holds a slight negative charge. This happens due to the electronegativity difference between chlorine and hydrogen. Being more electronegative, chlorine attracts the long pair of electrons more towards itself.
