Hydrogen chloride (HCl), an important specialty gas, forms hydrochloric acid, a highly corrosive mineral acid, when it comes in contact with water. HCl is also known as Anhydrous Hydrogen Chloride (AHCl) — meaning water-free.
AHCl is used as an acid-catalyst for chemical reactions where water-free conditions are desired.
HCl and AHCl are used to produce vinyl and alkyl chlorides, pharmaceuticals, and in the semiconductor industry for etching semiconductor crystals and purifying silicon via SiHCl3. It is also used to treat cotton to de-lint it and for small scale laboratory work where the gas is available in cylinders.
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