Question

Question #e2a78

Answer 1

Because they are the same chemical compound.

Explanation:

If I understand your question correctly, hydrogen chloride, or `HCl`, and hydrochloric acid, or `HCl`, have the same chemical formula because they are the same compound.

In essence, a hydrogen chloride molecule is formed when a hydrogen atom and a chlorine atom form a covalent bond.

The fact that chlorine is more electronegative than hydrogen ensures that this bond is actually a polar covalent bond, meaning that the bonding electrons spend more time surrounding the chlorine atom than they do the hydrogen atom.

Now, there is a subtle difference between hydrochloric acid and hydrogen chloride

When the molecule is in a gaseous state, it is called hydrogen chloride.

`HCl_((g)) -> color(green)("hydrogen chloride")`

When it is placed in aqueous solution, the compound is called hydrochloric acid.

`HCl_((aq)) -> color(blue)("hydrochloric acid")`

So basically, the `HCl` molecule goes by different names depending on which state it is in

• in gaseous state `->` hydrogen chloride;
• In aqueous solution `->` hydrochloric acid.