-Hydrochloric acid is an aqueous solution made up of hydrogen and chloride. Strong, corrosive, irritating acid. Very low pH level. Widely used in industry.
-Commonly used in the production of all sorts of batteries, photoflash light bulbs, fireworks, it's also used to process sugar and sometimes make gelatin. Processes steel, one of the first choices for suspension bridges and vehicles and is a major factor to fracking in the oilfield industry. -hydrochloric acid is in the pickling of steel, to remove rust or iron oxide from iron or steel before processing, such as rolling and other techniques. Technical quality HCl at typically 18% concentration is the most commonly used pickling agent for the pickling of carbon steel grades. |
-The H3O+ makes the HCl acidic, HCl is also a strong acid because it has more hydrogen ions compared to another substance such as lactic acid.
-As mentioned earlier the typical concentration of HCl when steel pickling is 18%, when fracking 85% is water and the concentration of HCl is only 15%. |
INDUSTRY |
PROS AND CONS |
(Fracking- Oil Field)
The chemicals used in this process are hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, and sodium hydroxide. In hydraulic fracturing, hydrochloric acid is used to dissolve minerals and produce fissures. sodium hydroxide is used to adjust the pH levels of fracking fluid. |
PROS
HCl is used in fracking to erode the ground and essentially soften it up for digging rather than just digging right off the start reducing the risk of earthquakes. There aren't much pros for the environment due to it being a strong acid and harmful substance. CONS Hydrochloric acid is released into the atmosphere, mainly through coal burning. The HCl in the atmosphere is becoming a largely negative effect on the environment affecting water and all types if ecosystems. The increased acidity in soil stops some organisms from growing. Hydrochloric acid is corrosive to the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure may cause eye, nose, and respiratory tract irritation and illness |