Hydrochloric acidis acorrosive,strongmineral acidwith many industrial uses. A colorless, highlypungentsolutionofhydrogen chloride(HCl) in water, when it reacts with an organic base it forms ahydrochloridesalt. Hydrochloric acid was discovered by the alchemistJabir ibn Hayyanaround the year 800 AD.[5][6]Hydrochloric acid was historically calledacidum salis,muriatic acid, andspirits of saltbecause it was produced fromrock saltand "green vitriol" (Iron(II) sulfate) (byBasilius Valentinusin the 15th century) and later from the chemically similarcommon saltandsulfuric acid(byJohann Rudolph Glauberin the 17th century). Free hydrochloric acid was firstformally describedin the 16th century byLibavius. Later, it was used by chemists such asGlauber,Priestley, andDavyin their scientific research. Unless pressurized or cooled, hydrochloric acid will turn into a gas if there is around 60% or less ofwater. Hydrochloricacidis also known as muriaticacidand hydronium chloride.
With major production starting in theIndustrial Revolution, hydrochloric acid is used in thechemical industryas achemical reagentin the large-scale production ofvinyl chlorideforPVCplastic, andMDIandTDIforpolyurethane. It has numerous smaller-scale applications, including householdcleaning, production ofgelatinand otherfood additives,descaling, andleatherprocessing. About 20 milliontonnesof hydrochloric acid are produced worldwide annually.[citation needed]It is also found naturally ingastric acid.
