Hydrochloric acid 28% solution is a strong corrosive acid that is commonly used as a laboratory reagent. It is formed by dissolving hydrogen chloride in water. It is a strong acid, the major component of gastric acid and of wide industrial use. Hydrochloric acid must be handled with appropriate safety precautions.

Hydrochloric acid is used in the production of chlorides, for refining ore in the production of tin and tantalum, for pickling and cleaning of metal products, in electroplating, in removing scale from boilers, for the neutralization of basic systems, as a laboratory reagent, as a catalyst and solvent in organic syntheses, in the manufacture of fertilizers and dyes, for hydrolysing starch and proteins in the preparation of various food products, and in the photographic, textile, and rubber industries.