Hydrochloric Acid Uses
Many of the conveniences in our modern world have been made possible through the application of chemistry. Many chemicals are caustic and hazardous to work with, but they are indispensable in the manufacturing industry. Hydrochloric acid, or HCl, has become a common reagent in laboratory settings and in manufacturing chlorides, fertilizers and dyes. Follow safety precautions when handling this caustic and hazardous chemical.
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Metal Processing
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One useful property of hydrochloric acid is its cleansing effects. The acid is able to dissolve rust and other oxides from the surface of steel. This process is done to steel that is going to be further processed to make wire and tin products. A continuous steel pickling process involves passing hot-rolled strip steel through a flow of acid solution. It is also used to etch aluminum, galvanize and clean metals.
Laboratory Reagent
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Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid, which means nearly all of the acid salt dissociates, leaving free hydrogen ions in an acid solution. This property makes it suitable for many laboratory applications to adjust pH, acidify solutions, do titrations and as a general reagent in various chemical reactions. One use in the pharmaceutical industry is as a catalyst to speed chemical reactions.
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Food Industry
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It may be hard to accept that a chemical that used in heavy industries for its metal cleansing properties is also used in the food industry. While there are a myriad of uses of HCl in the food production process, one common application is in the production of high fructose corn syrup. The acid regenerates resin columns designed to remove impurities. An ion exchange resin is one that becomes acidified by the acid. It then attracts impurities as the sample is passed through a column. The resin itself is reusable by regenerating it with HCl. Modifying the pH of intermediates, the final product and waste water is another way HCl is used in the food manufacturing industry.
Cleaning Products
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Cleaning products contain hydrochloric acid for many different uses. The building industry uses some cleaning products with HCl to clean bricks and in concrete etching. Very dilute solutions are used in swimming pool maintenance. Many household products contain HCl. Next time you clean around the house, take the opportunity to learn which cleaning products you are using contain hydrochloric acid.
Safety Information
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Using hydrochloric acid in various industries can be safe if industry protocols are followed. Chemical injuries become more serious as the concentration of the acid increases. Some immediate effects include injury to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Inhalation of hydrochloric acid may cause coughing, hoarseness, inflammation, chest pain and pulmonary edema. Chronic exposure may cause gastritis, chronic bronchitis, dermatitis, dental discoloration and erosion. As of 2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had not found reproductive or cancer risks associated with exposure to hydrochloric acid.
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