Hydrogen Chloride

What is Hydrogen Chloride?

CAS#: 007647-01-0

At room temperature, hydrogen chloride is a colorless to slightly yellow, corrosive, nonflammable gas that is heavier than air and has a strong irritating odor. On exposure to air, hydrogen chloride forms dense white corrosive vapors. Hydrogen chloride can be released from volcanoes.

Hydrogen chloride has many uses, including cleaning, pickling, electroplating metals, tanning leather, and refining and producing a wide variety of products. Hydrogen chloride can be formed during the burning of many plastics. Upon contact with water, it forms hydrochloric acid. Both hydrogen chloride and hydrochloric acid are corrosive.

Related Resources for Hydrogen Chloride

• Medical Management Guidelines (MMGs) for Acute Chemical Exposures
  Publication intended to aid emergency department physicians and other emergency healthcare professionals who manage acute exposures resulting from chemical incidents.
  
• ToxFAQ
  Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions about a contaminant and its health effects.