hydrochloric acid

noun

hy·​dro·​chlo·​ric acid ˌhī-drə-ˈklȯr-ik- 

: an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride HCl that is a strong corrosive irritating acid, is normally present in dilute form in gastric juice, and is widely used in industry and in the laboratory

Examples of hydrochloric acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

About the same time, a Missouri infantryman and musician in the home’s band fell back into the sodden embrace of booze after years of sobriety, went back to his barracks and swallowed hydrochloric acid. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

If a stain is set in or is particularly hard to remove, try a commercial product like hydrochloric acid (but avoid using it on concrete floors) or call a cleaning professional you trust. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2024

Metzger’s Auto-Destructive art works included his Acid Action painting in which nylon canvases were sprayed with hydrochloric acid which corrodes the point of contact within 15 seconds. —Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

Cornstarch, for instance, can be heated with hydrochloric acid to make corn syrup. —Jess Craig, Vox, 5 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hydrochloric acid

noun

hy·​dro·​chlo·​ric acid ˌhī-drə-ˌklōr-ik- 

-ˌklȯr-

: a strong acid formed by dissolving hydrogen chloride in water that is widely used in industry and in the laboratory

Medical Definition

hydrochloric acid

noun

hy·​dro·​chlo·​ric acid ˌhī-drə-ˌklōr-ik-, -ˌklȯr- 

: an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride HCl that is a strong corrosive irritating acid, is normally present in dilute form in gastric juice, and is widely used in industry and in the laboratory

called also muriatic acid