Definition

Noun: * A chemical compound formed by the reaction of an organic base (especially an amine or alkaloid) with hydrochloric acid. It is typically a crystalline salt that is more stable and soluble in water than the original base, making it useful in pharmaceuticals.

Usage

• This term is primarily used in chemistry, pharmacology, and medicine to describe the salt form of a drug or organic compound.
• It is often abbreviated as "HCl" or "·HCl" in chemical names (e.g., pseudoephedrine hydrochloride).

Examples

• In Pharmacology:
  • Many common medications, such as diphenhydramine hydrochloride, are sold as hydrochloride salts to improve their stability.
  • The doctor prescribed a course of amitriptyline hydrochloride for the patient.
• In Chemistry:
  • The alkaloid was converted to its hydrochloride for the crystallization experiment.
  • The hydrochloride form of the compound showed significantly higher aqueous solubility.

Advanced Usage

• Pharmaceutical Formulation: The creation of a hydrochloride salt is a standard method to modify the physical properties (like melting point, solubility, and shelf life) of a basic drug molecule for manufacturing and therapeutic use.

Variants and Related Words

• Hydrochloride Salt: A more descriptive full term.
• Hydrochloric Acid (HCl): The strong acid used to form a hydrochloride.
• Hydrobromide / Hydroiodide: Analogous salts formed using hydrobromic acid or hydroiodic acid instead of hydrochloric acid.

Synonyms

• Chloride salt (in a specific pharmaceutical/chemical context)
• HCl salt

Notes on Different Meanings

• The word "hydrochloride" has a single, specific technical meaning. It does not have common idiomatic or figurative uses. It refers exclusively to the type of salt formed with hydrochloric acid.

Noun

1. a complex consisting of an organic base in association with hydrogen chloride