ICSE Class 10 Chemistry Revision Notes Chapter 8 - Study of Compounds: Hydrogen Chloride

The existence of hydrogen chloride at room temperature is either colourless or slightly yellow gas. As compared to air it is much heavier and has got a strong pungent odour. It gets dissolved in the water to form Hydrochloric acid.

Hydrogen chloride is used for many purposes like cleaning, pickling, and electroplating metals, refining soap, for making fertilizer, vinyl chloride, artificial silk, dyes, pigment for paint, and tanning leather. It is also utilised in the photographic, textile, clothes, and rubber industries. It is used as an ingredient in some cleaning products. They are also added in the form of hydrochloric acid to water supplies or swimming pools to change their pH level and to prevent them from forming. Its usage in the swimming pool is tightly controlled and due to the acid being neutralised, does not lead to health hazards.

It is formed by the activities of the human in the environment such as it produces from the coal-burning power stations and incinerators. Hydrogen chloride produces from the burning of fossil fuels although there is less usage of these fuels and is a minor source of hydrogen chloride emissions in the future. The burning of plastics and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) leads to the formation of Hydrogen chloride. Volcanoes also lead to the formation of hydrogen chloride. Hydrogen chloride which produces in an environment like air or water leads to the formation of hydrochloric acid.

A lot of naturally producing hydrogen chloride is removed by water through rain which helps in reducing its level in the air. Humans can be exposed to it when they use cleaning products and exposure to it could be very low if the product is used carefully.s hydrogen chloride is being used in several industries and that can lead to occupational exposure. Exposure mainly happens because of malfunction and accidental releases. However, safety tips are taken to protect employees from the harmful effects of it.

Harmful Impact

Generally, the most common way to get exposed to it is by breathing it, drinking it or by skin or eye contact. The impact on your health depends on many factors like the amount to which you are exposed, the way you are exposed, its duration, the form of the chemical and if you are exposed to other chemicals present there. Sometimes breathing can irritate the nose and the throat, cough as well as problems in breathing. Other problems could be headaches, fever, an increase in heart rate, and confusion. In severe cases, there would be damage to airways and it is known as pulmonary oedema where fluids start developing in the lungs and could have a lasting impact on lungs and airways.

In terms of skin hydrochloric acid forms in case of sweating combined with hydrogen chloride gas and that leads to irritation and could be corrosive. Strong solutions can burn or damage our eyes, or can cause skin burn because they are highly corrosive. If you drink hydrochloric acid then it could burn your mouth, throat as well as stomach.

Hydrogen chloride or hydrochloric acid can cause cancer in humans if you get exposed to it.

For pregnant women, there is no evidence of its impact on them. The impact on the unborn children mostly happens to mothers instead of the unborn children.

Children do get impacted in the same way as adults.

Prevention

• The products related to hydrochloric acid should be kept in a safe place.

• It should not be kept or stored near asthmatic patients

• In case if you get exposed to it then immediately remove yourself from getting exposed.

• If you have got a reaction on the skin then remove solid clothing and not over the head and wash the area which has been exposed to it with lukewarm water and soap at least for 10-15 minutes and seek medical help.