-Chemistry Problem Solved-

Is HCl, hydrogen chloride or commonly known as hydrochloric acid an ionic or covalent compound?

The answer is covalent. Yes, HCl is a covalent compound.

This is actually my problem, yeah I asked when I got stunned as Wai Keat asked me why covalent compound can be used as electrolyte.
And yes, I haven't study chemistry yet, so I could not give him a specific answer.
Then, we proposed this questions to our friends, You Qian, Jinn Hau, Chern Yan and etc, etc.
Answer provided by them is Hydrogen is a non-metal and Chlorine is also a non-metal so when they are bonded together, they will form a covalent compound. Er, they also don't know why it dissociates when it is dissolved in water..

My problem is that I don't understand why elements of a covalent compound can be dissociated and used as an electrolyte?

I think, and think..

At last, I found the answer in the success book where it states that..

"All covalent compounds (except those that can dissociate to form ions when dissolved in water) are non-electrolytes."

Source: Success Chemistry Reference Book. Thanks, Success.

Then next answer is from wiki where it states that..

"Hydrogen chloride is composed of diatomic molecules, each consisting of a hydrogen atom H and a chlorine atom Cl connected by a covalent single bond. Since the chlorine atom is much more electronegative than the hydrogen atom, the covalent bond between the two atoms is quite polar. Consequently, the molecule has a large dipole moment with a negative partial charge δ⁻ at the chlorine atom and a positive partial charge δ⁺ at the hydrogen atom. In part due to its high polarity, HCl is very soluble in water (and in other polar solvents)."

Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_chloride. Thanks, wiki.

Well, my problem is solved then, supported by many friends and sources. Thanks all.

I think that's all for today. Just feel like updating my problems on my blog as I got nothing else to write for.. Hehee.

A post for installation and birthday celebration will be written as well.

Thanks. Stay tune~ *Sorry for posting something really lame, studies.*

Special thanks to all my friends from 4 Cendana that helped me in this problem. Thanks all.