| a colorless or faintly yellow, corrosive, fuming liquid, HCl, used chiefly in chemical and industrial processes. |

hydrochloric acid hy·dro·chlo·ric acid (hī'drə-klôr'ĭk)
n.
A clear, colorless, fuming, poisonous, highly acidic aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride, normally present in a dilute form in gastric juice, and used in a variety of laboratory processes.
| hydrochloric acid (hī'drə-klôr'ĭk) Pronunciation Key
A solution of hydrogen chloride in water, forming a very strong, poisonous, corrosive acid with a sharp odor. It is used in food processing, metal cleaning, and dyeing. Small amounts of hydrochloric acid are also secreted by the stomachs of animals for digestion. Also called muriatic acid. |