Hydrochloric acid or muriatic acid, is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride. It is a colorless strong acid with a distinctive pungent smell. Hydrochloric acid is an important laboratory reagent and industrial chemical. It is used in many industrial processes such as refining metal and precious metals. In food, pharmaceutical, drinking water industries high-quality hydrochloric acid is used to control the pH of process water streams. Many chemical reactions involving hydrochloric acid are applied in the production of food, food ingredients, and food additives (aspartame, fructose, citric acid, lysine).