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Hydrochloric Acid

By: Aeronx Mc Mall

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Hydrochloric acid is a compound of hydrogen and chlorine, otherwise called, hydrogen chloride (HCl) that can be found in water. This chemical is a highly corrosive, potent, mineral acid which is naturally exist within gastric acid which is one of the primary components that functions in the intestinal tract to digest food and get rid of secretions. Gastric acid also functions in the body as a shield against microorganism in order to ward off contaminations.

The gastric acid comprises primarily of hydrochloric acid which break down the stomach contents. Chloride (Cl-) and hydrogen (H ) ions are excreted separately in the stomach region which rest at the top of the belly by parietal cells of the gastric mucosa into a secretory network known as canaliculi before it enters the stomach lumen. After exiting the abdomen, the hydrochloric acid of the chyme is neutralize in the duodenum by sodium bicarbonate.

The stomach itself is guarded from the strong acid by the secretion of a thick, defensive mucus layer, and by secretin induced buffering with sodium bicarbonate. If hydrochloride is present in the esophagus, it can aggravate the lining of the esophagus and result in the feeling like peptic ulcers or heartburn.
Apart from being naturally produced in the body, hydrochloric acid is repeatedly used as a powerful inorganic acid in many industrial processes. During the Middle Ages, it was used by alchemist in the quest for the philosopher's stone, and afterwards by European scientists such as Davy, Glauber and Priestley in their scientific studies. Historically it was called 'muriatic acid' or 'spirits of salt', produced from vitriol and regular salt.

Hydrochloric acid became widely used at the start of the Industrial Revolution, when it was used in the chemical business as a chemical reagent in the extensive production of vinyl chloride used to make PVC plastic, and MDI/TDI for polyurethane.

Hydrochloric acid is particularly used to create chlorides, for filtering ore in the manufacturing of tin and tantalum, for the pickling and cleaning of metal products, in electroplating, in removing scale from boilers, to neutralize basic systems, as a laboratory reagent, as a catalyst and solvent in organic syntheses, in the manufacture of fertilizers and dyes, for hydrolyzing starch and proteins in the preparation of certain food products and in the photographic, textile, and rubber industries. It is also used in numerous smaller-scale application, including domestic cleaning, production of gelatin and other food preservatives, descaling, and leather processing. Around 20 million metric tons of hydrochloric acid is manufactured annually.

Potassium nitrate which is a chemical substance is also utilized to safely store food as a regular ingredient of salted meat since the Middle Ages, but its use has been mostly discontinued and substituted with sodium nitrate (and nitrite) because they are more consistent in safeguarding food from bacterial infection. However, it is still used in some food products, such as charcuterie and the brine used to make corned beef. Potassium nitrate was also used in the past for a number of burning fuses, for example slow matches, fertilizer in amateur rocket propellants, and in several fireworks such as smoke bombs. The major commercial source of the nitrate ion from the Late Middle Ages and throughout the 19th century is decaying urine.

As compost, potassium nitrate is used as a source of nitrogen and potassium, which is two of the major minerals for plants. Potassium nitrate is also the key component for tree stump remover because it speeds up the natural decomposition of the stump. It is used as a solvent in the heat treatment of metals in the post-wash. It works well as a quick-fix rust inhibitor because of its ability to oxidize, water contents at a affordable rate. It has also been used in the manufacture of ice cream and can be found in some toothpaste particularly made for sensitive teeth. Potassium nitrate is also one of the three components of black powder, along with pulverized charcoal and sulfur, where it works as an oxidizer

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Please visit this link for more information on: Hydrochloric Acid and this link for an interesting article on Oxalic Acid.

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