Intermolecular forces
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Molecules such as NH3 dissolve readily in water due to extensive hydrogen bonding but how do you explain that in the case for HCl and how do you explain the relationship why HCl dissolves in water more readily than molecules such as NH3?
The solubility of HCl in water is accompanied by extensive dissociation into ions. These ions are hydrated. This is why gaseous HCl is so soluble. It is not true that HCl is more soluble than ammonia, the reverse is the case.
The two situations are not easily comparable since ammonia molecules do not react much with the water in which they dissolve (ammonia is a weak base) whereas hydrogen chloride undergoes extensive reaction with the water.
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Risk assessment
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updated: 25 August 2003
