What is the Difference Between Hydrogen Chloride and Hydrochloric Acid?

The main difference between hydrogen chloride and hydrochloric acid lies in their physical states and the way they act in solution. Both compounds have the same chemical formula: HCl. Here are the key differences:

Physical State: Hydrogen chloride is a gas, while hydrochloric acid is an aqueous solution.
Solubility: Both compounds are highly soluble in water.
Reactivity: Hydrogen chloride gas is non-flammable and highly reactive with water. When it dissolves in water, it dissociates into H+ and Cl- ions. Hydrochloric acid, on the other hand, is a strong acidic compound.
Usage: Hydrochloric acid is easier to use compared to hydrogen chloride gas, which is not convenient to use in its gaseous state.

In summary, hydrogen chloride is a gas, and when it dissolves in water, it forms hydrochloric acid, which is an aqueous solution. Both compounds have the same chemical formula but differ in their physical states, reactivity, and usage.

On this page

What is the Difference Between Hydrogen Chloride and Hydrochloric Acid?

Comparative Table: Hydrogen Chloride vs Hydrochloric Acid

The main difference between hydrogen chloride and hydrochloric acid lies in their states. Both compounds share the same molecular formula, HCl, but they exist in different forms. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences between hydrogen chloride and hydrochloric acid:

Property	Hydrogen Chloride (HCl)	Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)
State	Gas	Aqueous Solution
Molecular Formula	HCl	HCl
Appearance	Colorless gas with a strong, irritating odor	Colorless liquid with a pungent odor
Solubility	Soluble in water and other polar solvents	Conducts electricity when dissolved in water or polar solvents
Structure	Diatomic molecule with a covalent bond between hydrogen and chlorine atoms	Can dissociate into hydrogen ions (protons) and chloride ions when dissolved in water or polar solvents
Electronegativity	Chlorine is more electronegative than hydrogen, making the bond polar

In summary, hydrogen chloride is a gas, while hydrochloric acid is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride. Both compounds share the same molecular formula, but they exist in different states and have different properties accordingly.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.