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Explain the effect of hydrogen chloride on blue and red litmus papers when it is dissolved in water and in methylbenzene.

Answer Text:
When hydrogen chloride is dissolved in water the solution formed turns a blue litmus paper to red
while the red litmus paper remains red. This is because hydrogen chloride is polar and dissolves in water which is also polar and ionizes to produce #H^+# which are responsible for the acidity of the solution. But when it is dissolved in
methylbenzene, it has no effect on the litmus paper, this is because methylbenzene is non-polar hence hydrogen chloride will not ionize.