Name: Hydrochloric Acid Reagent Grade 37% 1 Gallon (1x4 qt.) Alchemie Labs
SKU: HCI-37A1G4P
Price: 54.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Description

Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid For Sale

Are you looking for where to buy Hydrochloric Acid? Look no further than our high quality Hydrochloric Acid for sale. Our reagent grade Hydrochloric Acid is an ideal choice for laboratory and industrial applications.

What is Hydrochloric Acid?

Hydrogen chloride dissolved in a solution is called hydrochloric acid or muriatic acid depending on the concentration of hydrogen chloride. Its formula is HCl meaning it has one covalent bond between a hydrogen and a chlorine atom. This chemical composition makes it so the chlorine can readily bond with other compounds leaving the hydrogen to bond to another hydrogen or other chemical in the bonded compound.

On top of readily bonding with other compounds, producing hydrochloric acid entails a relatively simple process compared to other acids making it cost-effective for industrial applications. These two factors make HCl one of the most common acids used in manufacturing and industrial settings.

Types And Purities Of Hydrochloric Acid

In most industrial settings, purities of hydrochloric acid rarely necessitate over 35% purity. While it is possible to reach purities of over 40%, it evaporates at an extremely fast rate making it difficult to transport and store. So, most bulk and industrial-grade hydrochloric acid available range in purity between 30% and 35%. This strikes a balance between minimizing product loss and shipping costs.

Purities between 20% and 32% are often referred to as muriatic acid in the United States.

Although the most common industrial-grade hydrochloric acid ranges in purity between 30% and 35%, it is readily available in significantly lower purities of as little as 10%. When sold as a domestic product, hydrochloric acid solutions drop in purity even further to around 5%.

Proper Handling Of Hydrochloric Acid

As a strong acid, hydrochloric acid is a highly corrosive chemical and must be handled with care. Although all exposure to the skin should be avoided, exposure to the eyes can cause serious damage such as cataracts and glaucoma. Inhalation can also cause irritation and even suffocation depending on the concentration of the acid.

If the eyes or skin becomes exposed to hydrochloric acid, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends immediately washing the affected area. If swallowed, seek immediate medical attention.

To properly store hydrochloric acid, never keep the solution in a metal container. Instead, PVC containers are generally recommended. Keep the solution away from sources of heat, direct sunlight, and potentially reactive materials. Generally, hydrochloric acid is stable so degradation is not a significant concern.

Industrial Use Cases For Hydrochloric Acid

Hydrochloric acid can react with a wide range of chemicals and is relatively simple to produce making it an effective acid in a wide range of industrial processes. It can also be stored without risks of degradation giving it a long shelf life. Outlined below are eight of the most common industrial use cases for hydrochloric acid although there are nearly an endless number of suitable applications.

Precious Metal Refining

A combination of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid makes what is known as aqua regia. Aqua regia sees industrial use for refining gold. Neither acid on its own can refine gold, but when combined it creates nitrosyl chloride and chlorine gas. Although aqua regia is relatively stable, it is typically prepared just before use as the reaction of dissolving gold causes the aqua regia to lose potency.

Essentially, aqua regia dissolves gold without dissolving any impurities. Once dissolved, the solid impurities can be filtered out and the aqua regia can be boiled leaving just gold.

When mixed with different acids, this process can also work for refining silver, platinum, and other precious metals.

Color Dyes

To alter the color of a base dye into a different color, hydrochloric acid is commonly used as a treatment to alter an existing dye. This process allows for the creation of unique colored dyes such as turning log wood black into cherry-red or violet-red. The process works through a chemical reaction that strips specific compounds providing a certain color leaving the base material with an altered color.

Electroplating

When copper plating or nickel plating with an electroplating process, hydrochloric acid helps increase conductivity and increase corrosion of the anode. It also removes copper or nickel ions from the electroplating solution to further the oxidation of the copper or nickel. Without these reactions taking place, the copper sulfate or nickel sulfate bath can become depleted of copper preventing further copper plating from occurring.

Leather Processing

Tanneries use hydrochloric acid in the leather tanning process to prevent bacteria growth and for maintaining proper pH levels in the leather. Specifically, hydrochloric acid is used during the deliming portion of the tanning process. During this portion of the process, the alkalinity of the hide is reduced by submerging the hide in a bath of an acidic solution.

Rubber Industries

Within the rubber industries, hydrochloric acid can be used as a chemical for treating natural rubber composites to create a stronger end product. Oil palm ash-filled natural rubber composites offer higher aging resistance and reduced swelling after treatment with hydrochloric acid.

Steel Pickling

The pickling of steel is one of the most common industrial uses of hydrochloric acid. After cooling from a molten state, oxide scales form on the steel’s surface. Before processing the steel further, these oxide scales need to be removed. Steel pickling involves removing iron oxide scale from steel or iron by submerging the steel or iron in a hydrochloric acid bath. Common steel pickling operations use hydrochloride solutions with a purity of roughly 18%.

Laboratory

In laboratory settings, hydrochloric acid is commonly used as a strong mineral acid solution for oxidation-reduction reactions as it is the least likely of all monoprotic acids to interfere. Compared to other strong acids, hydrochloric acid is also one of the least hazardous to handle in a laboratory setting.

pH Control

Since hydrochloric acid completely dissociates in solutions, its ions can readily bond with other compounds in the solution to control for pH. The H+ ions can bond with oxygen to lower the pH or in highly acidic solutions, the Cl- ions can bond with stronger acids to raise the pH. This makes it ideal for controlling the pH of solutions.

Hydrochloric Acid Reagent Grade 37% 1 Gallon (1×4 qt.)