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Test for Hydrogen Chloride Gas,  HCl_(g).

Hydrogen chloride

1)  Has no colour, but fumes in moist air (it looks misty).

2)  Has a pungent smell.

3)  Will turn moist blue litmus paper red,
or moist universal indicator paper red.
Hydrogen chloride is extremely soluble in water.
It dissolves to form hydrochloric acid, a strong acid,  pH = 1.

4)  Will put out a lit splint.

Specific test.

Hydrogen chloride will form a white smoke with ammonia
see test for ammonia.

Collecting Hydrogen Chloride.

Hydrogen chloride is more dense than air
and can be collected by downward delivery or using a gas syringe.

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