Is hydrochloric acid an organic acid?

No, hydrochloric acid is not an organic acid.

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a strong inorganic acid. Organic acids, by definition, contain carbon-hydrogen bonds. Hydrochloric acid is a simple molecule consisting of hydrogen and chlorine atoms and does not contain carbon. Its applications are widespread, including metal refining and other industrial processes. Because it lacks carbon, it is fundamentally classified as an inorganic acid.

Here's a simple breakdown:

• Organic Acid: Contains carbon-hydrogen bonds (C-H). Examples include acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and citric acid (C₆H₈O₇).
• Inorganic Acid: Does not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds. Examples include hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), and nitric acid (HNO₃).

Feature	Organic Acid	Inorganic Acid
Key Elements	Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen	Varies, but lacks C-H bonds
Example	Acetic Acid (CH3COOH)	Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)
Common Occurrence	Living Organisms, Food	Industrial Processes, Laboratories

Therefore, the absence of carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds in hydrochloric acid definitively classifies it as an inorganic acid.