What is the formula for hydrochloric acid?

1 Answer
anor277
Nov 20, 2016

Formally it is #HCl(aq)#.

Explanation:

#"Hydrogen chloride"# is a gas at room temperature, #"boiling point "=-85.1^@# #C#.

#"Hydrogen chloride"# is exceptionally water soluble, in which solvent it undergoes almost complete ionization:

#HCl(g) +H_2O(l) rarr H_3O^(+) + Cl^-#

The anion and the cation are solvated by several water molecules.

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