Question

Assertion: $HCl$ is considered a polar covalent compound.
Reason: The chloride ion is less electronegative than hydrogen ion. So chloride ion carries partial negative character while hydrogen carries partial positive character.
A) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion.
B) Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion.
C) Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.
D) Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect.

Answer 1

Hint:As we know that hydrochloric acid is produced by burning chlorine and hydrogen and the hydrogen has an electron affinity to gain the electrons and chlorine is anionic in nature and have the tendency to donate one electron and thus attracts the bonded pair of electrons.


Complete answer:
As we know that hydrogen and chlorine gas are mixed in water to form the liquid hydrochloric acid and each compound of hydrochloric acid is formed of a one to one ratio of hydrogen and chlorine atoms. We also know that the hydrogen contains a partial positive charge acting as a proton having the electron affinity and tendency to accept one electron from a negative ion and chloride ions are anionic in nature where they can share or donate an electron to attain the stability. Thus chloride ions are electronegative atoms and thus attract the hydrogen atoms towards it resulting in a polar covalent bond formation.
Thus we can say that chloride ions carry a partial negative character and hydrogen carries a partial positive character. Hence, the resultant is a polar covalent compound. So both the reason and assertion are correct and reason is the correct explanation for the assertion.

And hence, the correct answer is Option A.


Note:Remember that hydrochloric acid is commercially used in batteries, photoflash bulbs and fireworks production. It is also used to make gelatin and refined cane sugar. But it is also a poisonous and corrosive hazardous liquid which reacts with most of the metals resulting in an explosive hydrogen gas that can cause irritation to eyes and severe burns.