Hydrogen Chloride Molecule in 3D: HCl Structure and Facts
Hydrogen chloride is a hydrogen atom joined to a chlorine atom. Dissolved in water it becomes hydrochloric acid, the same strong acid found in your stomach. In Molecule Studio you can spin the hydrogen chloride molecule, zoom in on each atom and measure its bonds.
Explore in 3DHydrogen Chloride quick facts
| Chemical formula | HCl |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 36.46 g/mol |
| Atoms in one molecule | 2 |
| Shape | Linear (two atoms) |
| Group | Acids |
What is hydrogen chloride used for?
- Making hydrochloric acid
- Cleaning metals
- Making plastics like PVC
Interesting facts about hydrogen chloride
- In water it forms hydrochloric acid, a strong acid.
- Your stomach uses hydrochloric acid to help digest food.
- The bond is polar because chlorine pulls electrons strongly.
- As a gas it is colourless with a sharp smell.
What you can do in 3D
Turn the molecule to see it from every side, switch between ball and stick, space filling and wire views, and tap atoms to measure bond lengths and angles.
More acids molecules
Hydrogen Chloride questions
What is the formula of hydrogen chloride?
HCl: one hydrogen atom and one chlorine atom.
What is the difference between hydrogen chloride and hydrochloric acid?
Hydrogen chloride is the gas. Hydrochloric acid is hydrogen chloride dissolved in water.
Is there hydrochloric acid in the stomach?
Yes. The stomach makes dilute hydrochloric acid to help break down food.
Is HCl polar?
Yes. Chlorine pulls the shared electrons towards itself, making the molecule polar.
Molecule Studio is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up. In the tool, molecules load from the built-in library or from PubChem.