Answer to Question #312763 in General Chemistry for lou

Question

1.     Why is it difficult to test the presence of chloride in organic compounds than in inorganic ones like hydrochloric acid? 

Answer 1

Hydrogen chloride gas and hydrochloric acid have the same chemical formula: HCl. The difference between the two is that hydrogen chloride is a gas, and hydrochloric acid is an aqueous solution. Hydrogen chloride gas is heavier than air, slightly yellow in color, non-flammable, and highly reactive with water.