Is Hydrogen Chloride Acidic
On whether hydrogen chloride is acidic
The world has questioned the acidic nature of hydrogen chloride, and the dispute has been going on for a long time. To understand its nature, we should investigate its root.
Hydrogen chloride, the normal state is gas, when it is pure, there is no ionization of ions, and there is no sign of acidity. Looking at the anhydrous environment, hydrogen chloride exists as a molecule, and there is no free hydrogen ion. It cannot change the indicator or phase with the alkali.
It is placed in water, and the situation is very different. Water and solvents can also make hydrogen chloride separate, and hydrogen ions and chloride ions can be produced. At this time, the solution is acidic, which can turn litmus red and neutralize with alkali to produce salt and water. If it is in contact with sodium hydroxide, hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions combine into water, and chloride ions and sodium ions form sodium chloride.
Therefore, hydrogen chloride is non-acidic in anhydrous places; when it is in contact with water, it is acidic. This is its essential characteristic, which varies according to the environment and cannot be generalized. To obtain the true meaning, one must carefully observe the situation in which it is located, so as not to misjudge.
The world has questioned the acidic nature of hydrogen chloride, and the dispute has been going on for a long time. To understand its nature, we should investigate its root.
Hydrogen chloride, the normal state is gas, when it is pure, there is no ionization of ions, and there is no sign of acidity. Looking at the anhydrous environment, hydrogen chloride exists as a molecule, and there is no free hydrogen ion. It cannot change the indicator or phase with the alkali.
It is placed in water, and the situation is very different. Water and solvents can also make hydrogen chloride separate, and hydrogen ions and chloride ions can be produced. At this time, the solution is acidic, which can turn litmus red and neutralize with alkali to produce salt and water. If it is in contact with sodium hydroxide, hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions combine into water, and chloride ions and sodium ions form sodium chloride.
Therefore, hydrogen chloride is non-acidic in anhydrous places; when it is in contact with water, it is acidic. This is its essential characteristic, which varies according to the environment and cannot be generalized. To obtain the true meaning, one must carefully observe the situation in which it is located, so as not to misjudge.

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