Application Uses of Hydrogen Chloride

Airgas is the leading supplier of anhydrous hydrogen chloride in the United States and has been a supplier for over 20 years. This compound has the chemical formula HCl and is a colorless gas at room temperature.

Hydrogen chloride has a wide range of applications including the production of biofuel, certain pharmaceutical products and as an additive to petroleum products.

We offer several grades of HCl in order to service your specific needs.  Whether it’s technical grade for chemical production or electronic grade for the pharmaceutical industry, we can supply you with exactly what you need, when you need it.

All About HCl

As early as 900 AD, Persian physician and alchemist Abu Bakr al-Razi was experimenting with ammonium chloride when it was distilled with vitriol and produced hydrogen chloride, likely by accident. It is thought that over time and through many other experiments, this gaseous compound was created numerous times before realizing that this compound may be put to chemical use. 

When hydrogen chloride is dissolved in water, a strong chemical compound is formed called hydrochloric acid. Also referred to as Muriatic Acid, this compound is highly corrosive and has several applications, including:

• Production of organic compounds such as dichloroethane and vinyl chloride for PVC
• Production of other organic compounds like bisphenol A, which is used in various pharmaceutical products
• Production of inorganic compounds like water treatment chemicals such as polyaluminium chloride (PAC) and iron(III) chloride, which are used as coagulation and flocculation agents in drinking water production, sewage treatment and paper production
• Removing stains from metals including iron, copper or brass
• Production of common pool cleaners
• Digesting food (present in gastric juices of the digestive tract)
• Purification of table salt
• Regulating the acidity of solutions
• Used in the process of oil production

Safety Tips for HCl

Wear a chemical-resistant apron, chemical-resistant gloves and chemical splash goggles at all times when handling HCl to protect your eyes and skin. Concentrated hydrochloric acid is toxic if inhaled, so avoid breathing it in and always handle it while under a fume hood.

Use unbreakable bottle carriers or PVC-coated bottles when transporting HCl. Check for cracks on the acid bottle before picking it up or touching it. Look for spilled acid on the handle or on the table before touching the bottle. Small amounts of HCl can be flushed down the sink with large quantities of water.

Acids should be stored in a dedicated wood cabinet. Wood cabinets are better than metal cabinets for storing acids because metal corrodes easily from hydrochloric acid fumes. Always keep a color-coded acid bottle cap on your bottle so that you know which bottle contains HCl.

If you are exposed to a harmful acid such as HCl, immediately seek medical attention. If acid splashes onto your skin, rinse it with water for 15 to 20 minutes. If acid gets into your eyes, immediately flush your eyes with water for a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes. If acid soaks your clothing, immediately remove the clothing before it gets to the skin.

Getting a Quote for Hydrogen Chloride from Airgas Specialty Products

Airgas Specialty Products knows that when you need hydrogen chloride, you don’t want to waste valuable time on long requests or miss out on productive time that could be better spent in other ways. That’s why we provide a convenient online form to request a quote for hydrogen chloride in your own time. 

To receive a quote, we’ll request a little bit of information about who you are, then ask:

• What you need: Airgas Specialty Products offers quality hydrogen chloride, but also provides services, seminars and training, so this information will help get your quote request to the right people. 

• What products you’re looking for: We are the nation’s preferred supplier of industrial ammonia and hydrogen chloride.

• How much hydrogen chloride you expect you will need: We provide individual cylinders of hydrogen chloride, but also supply the gas in quantities of as much as 30,000 pounds or more.

When you submit your quote request, we’ll factor in your specific needs, as well as your location and details about your operations to provide you with a quote in no time. Airgas Specialty Products has a network of distributors across the country, making delivery of the hydrogen chloride you need efficient, affordable and fast. 

Timely Delivery of the Hydrogen Chloride You Need

For years, Airgas Specialty Products has been dedicated to the sale and reliable delivery of the chemical products needed to make and treat many of the products that consumers depend on today. That’s why we are committed to providing world-class delivery services of hydrogen chloride, as well as anhydrous ammonia, aqueous ammonia and nitrous oxide. We proudly offer:

• After hours and short-notice delivery
• Tank inspections
• Safety training 
• And more

If you need hydrogen chloride, chances are it’s essential for your operations, which is exactly why we prioritize timely, safe delivery on a schedule that works for our clients. We get the importance of having hydrogen chloride tanks available in a range of industries, which is why we are here for you whenever you need us.

Connect with Airgas Specialty Products

For over 130 years, we’ve been in the business of providing organizations with the products necessary to do their job well, and in that time, we’ve learned a thing or two about delivering quality products and exceptional customer service.

To learn more about how we can be your preferred hydrogen chloride supplier, request a quote today.