hydrochloric acid (redirected from Spirits of salt)

hydrochloric acid /hy·dro·chlo·ric ac·id/ (-klor´ik) hydrogen chloride in aqueous solution, HCl, a highly corrosive mineral acid; it is used as a laboratory reagent and is a constituent of gastric juice, secreted by the gastric parietal cells.

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hy·dro·chlo·ric acid (hdr-klôrk)

n.

A clear, colorless, fuming, poisonous, highly acidic aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride, normally present in a dilute form in gastric juice, and used in a variety of laboratory processes.

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hydrochloric acid,

n a compound consisting of hydrogen and chlorine. Hydrochloric acid is secreted in the stomach and is a major component of gastric juice.

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hydrochloric acid

HCl; a normal constituent of gastric juice in humans and other animals. The absence of free hydrochloric acid in the stomach, called achlorhydria, may be found with chronic gastritis. Called also gastric anacidity.