Hydrochloric Acid or “HCL”, or commonly known as muriatic acid, is used in a wide range of

industrial and commercial applications. For people who work in industries where this chemical is
used, it is important to understand the common uses for hydrochloric acid, what purposes it
serves, and what you need to know to handle it safely and responsibly.
Hydrochloric acid is the liquid version of hydrogen chloride, an acidic gas. It occurs naturally
and is also commercially manufactured. Although it can be a corrosive and dangerous liquid,
HCL is naturally-occurring within our own bodies. The chemical is used in our digestive system,
regulated by mucous in our stomach lining as well as the hormone secretin.
In its liquid form, HCL is corrosive and produces a pungent, irritating odor. The National Fire
Protection Association Hazard Identification System categorizes industrial substances based on
various risk factors and ranks each area of risk from 0-4. A ranking of 0 means that the material
does not post a threat, whereas anything ranked 4 denotes a life-threatening risk. HCL’s NFPA
rankings are:
 Health risk: 3 (extreme danger)
 Flammability: 0 (will not burn under normal circumstances)
 Stability: 1 (normally stable but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and
pressures)
Anyone who interacts with hydrochloric acid should be aware of these factors because proper
protection and containment are vitally important. Keep in mind that proper procedures for
handling hydrochloric acid vary from industry to industry, but there are always best industry
practices to follow

 Hydrochloric acid is prepared by dissolving gaseous hydrogen chloride in water. Because

of the corrosive nature of the acid, ceramic, glass, or sometimes tantalum apparatus is
commonly used. 
 Hydrochloric acid is usually marketed as a solution containing 28–35 percent by weight
hydrogen chloride, commonly known as concentrated hydrochloric acid. Anhydrous
liquid hydrogen chloride is available, but because heavy and expensive containers are
required to store it, the use of hydrogen chloride in this form is limited.

 Hydrochloric acid is present in the digestive juices of the human stomach. Excessive
secretion of the acid causes gastric ulcers, while a marked deficiency of it impairs the
digestive process and is sometimes the primary cause of deficiency anemias.
Concentrated hydrochloric acid causes burns and inflammation of the skin.

 Hydrochloric acid is the water-based, or aqueous, solution of hydrogen chloride gas. It is

also the main component of gastric acid, an acid produced naturally in the human
stomach to help digest food. Hydrochloric acid is also synthetically produced for a
variety of industrial and commercial applications, and can be formed by a number of
manufacturing processes, including dissolving hydrogen chloride gas in water.
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 Safety Information
Hydrochloric acid in its concentrated, liquid form has a strong irritating odor and is very
corrosive. It can cause damage, such as chemical burns, upon contact, according to the U.S.
National Library of Medicine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes
that hydrochloric acid can cause eye damage, even blindness, if splashed in the eyes.
Ingestion of concentrated hydrochloric acid can cause severe injury to the mouth, throat,
esophagus and stomach. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as vapor respirators, rubber
gloves, splash goggles and face shields should be used when handling hydrochloric acid. If used
in the workplace, it is recommended that an eye flush station be available in case of accidental
exposure.
When using pool cleaners that contain hydrochloric acid (also known as muriatic acid), it is
important to follow directions on the product label for safe handling. The CDC has developed
two posters with recommendations for pool chemical safety handling as well as storage of pool
chemicals for pool owners and operators.
Storing Hydrochloric Acid
 Metal containers are not suitable storage containers for hydrochloric acid due to its
corrosive nature. Plastic containers, such as those made of PVC, can typically be used to
store hydrochloric acid.

 Is the hydrochloric acid used to manufacture food and beverages harmful?

The food industry uses hydrochloric acid to process a variety of food products. Food and
beverages contain small amounts of hydrochloric acid that are “neutralized and buffered during
ingestion and digestion, or after absorption” according to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. Hydrochloric acid is generally recognized as safe when used as a buffer and
neutralizing agent.

Is prolonged exposure to hydrochloric acid dangerous?

 Chronic exposure to hydrochloric acid can be dangerous. Occupational exposure can
occur in industrial environments by inhalation or skin contact during the production and
use of hydrochloric acid. Long-term exposure has been reported to cause chronic
bronchitis, dermatitis and photosensitization in humans. Rats that were chronically
exposed to inhalation tests experienced lesions in the nasal cavity and other side effects.
Long-term exposure to hydrochloric acid is unlikely for most consumers.
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 Hydrochloric acid is formed when Hydrogen Chloride gas is mixed in water. When the
reaction takes place Hydrochloric acid also known as Muriatic Acid forms giving out a
pungent smell and is basically an odourless and colourless solution.
 Hydrochloric acid also known as muriatic acid, is a poisonous, corrosive hazardous liquid
that reacts with most metals to form explosive hydrogen gas and causes severe burns and
irritation of eyes and mucous membranes. It is made by absorbing hydrogen chloride in
water.
Hydrogen acid is available in technical, recovered, food processing and reagent grades.
Frequently the commercial grades are slightly yellow as a result of impurities notably dissolved
iron. Reagent grade, which normally contains about 37.1% hydrochloric acid, is perfectly clear
and colourless.
Hydrochloric Acid Uses
 One interesting thing about Hydrochloric acid is that our stomachs make this chemical
naturally which further helps in the digestion of food. Hydrochloric acid acidifies the
stomach contents.
 This acid is also found primarily in several industries like rubber, textiles, and even in
photography. It is also a common item in homes. Having said that, there are a lot of uses
of Hydrochloric acid. Industrially, it is used to process steel, in the production of
batteries, fireworks and more. Let’s have a look at some uses of HCL in detail.