Concentrated hydrochloric acid when kept in open air sometimes produces a cloud of white fumes. The explanation for it is that

Due to strong affinity for water, concentrated hydrochloric acid pulls moisture of air towards itself. This moisture forms droplets of water and hence, the cloud.

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Concentrated hydrochloric acid emits strongly smelling HCl gas all the time.

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Oxygen in air reacts with the emitted HCl gas to form a cloud of chlorine gas.

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Strong affinity of HCl gas for moisture in air results in forming droplets of liquid solution which appear like a cloudy smoke.

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Solution

The correct option is B Due to strong affinity for water, concentrated hydrochloric acid pulls moisture of air towards itself. This moisture forms droplets of water and hence, the cloud.
$2 H C l (g) + \frac{1}{2} O_{2} (g) \to H_{2} O + C l_{2} (g)$

Hydrogen has more affinity to oxygen than Chlorine. $C l_{2}$ gas so form formed the cloud of white fumes.

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Similar questions

Q. When a bottle of conc. hydrochloric acid is opened, the white fumes produced is due to the immediate reaction of gas with in the air.

Q. Assertion :Statement -I :

{B e C l}_{2}

fumes in moist air.
Reason: Statement -II :

{B e C l}_{2}

reacts with moisture to form

H C l

gas.

Q. Why

H C l

gas forms a mist of droplets of

H C l

acid in moist air?

Explain, why (or give reasons for)
(i) In the laboratory preparation of hydrogen chloride from sodium chloride, the gas can be obtained below 200°C or above. But the lower temperature is preferred.
(ii) Hydrogen chloride is not collected over water.
(iii) Hydrochloric acid cannot be concentrated above 22.2% by boiling.
(iv) HCl gas does not conduct electricity, but hydrochloric acid conducts electricity.
(v) Only a very dilute solution of hydrogen chloride in water can be concentrated by boiling the solution while a very concentrated solution would become less concentrated when boiled.
(vi) When the stopper of a bottle full of HCl gas is opened there are fumes in the air.
(vii) A solution of HCl gas in water turns blue litmus red and conducts electricity, while HCl gas dissolves in toluene and it has no effect on litmus and does not conduct electricity.
(viii) An aqueous solution of chlorine is acidic in nature.

Q. Chlorine gas prepared from concentrated hydrochloric acid and manganese dioxide reacts with

F e

by_________to form__________ .

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