Question

If I mix 50 gallons of water with 85% muriatic acid how hot will it get?

Answer 1

Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is a monoprotic acid, which means it can dissociate (i.e., ionize) only once to give up one H⁺ ion (a single proton). In aqueous hydrochloric acid, the H⁺ joins a water molecule to form a hydronium ion, H₃O⁺:

HCl + H₂O → H₃O⁺ + Cl^−

The other ion formed is Cl^−, the chloride ion. Hydrochloric acid can therefore be used to prepare salts called chlorides, such as sodium chloride. Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid, since it is essentially completely dissociated in water. The heat is usually related to bonds being broken and heat is released then as electrons move to either different levels or to other atoms.