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

Question

Concentrated hydrochloric acid when kept in open air sometimes produces a cloud of white fumes. The explanation for it is that : (A) concentrated hydrochloric acid emits strongly smelling HCl gas all the time (B) oxygen in air reacts wtih the emitted HCl gas to form a cloud of chlorine gas (C) strong affinity of HCl gas for moisture in air results in forming of droplets of liquid solution which appears like a cloudy smoke (D) 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

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

2 HCl +(1/2) O 2 → H 2 O + Cl 2

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

concentrated hydrochloric acid emits strongly smelling HCl gas all the time

oxygen in air reacts wtih the emitted $H Cl$ gas to form a cloud of chlorine gas

strong affinity of $H Cl$ gas for moisture in air results in forming of droplets of liquid solution which appears like a cloudy smoke

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

$2 H Cl + \frac{1}{2} O_{2} \to H_{2} O + C l_{2}$

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

concentrated hydrochloric acid emits strongly smelling HCl gas all the time

oxygen in air reacts wtih the emitted HCl gas to form a cloud of chlorine gas

strong affinity of HCl gas for moisture in air results in forming of droplets of liquid solution which appears like a cloudy smoke

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

2HCl+21​O2​→H2​O+Cl2​

oxygen in air reacts wtih the emitted $H Cl$ gas to form a cloud of chlorine gas

strong affinity of $H Cl$ gas for moisture in air results in forming of droplets of liquid solution which appears like a cloudy smoke

$2 H Cl + \frac{1}{2} O_{2} \to H_{2} O + C l_{2}$