The key difference between hydrochloride and dihydrochloride is that hydrochloride compounds form from the reaction between an organic base and a hydrochloric acid molecule, whereas dihydrochloride compounds form from the reaction between an organic base and two hydrochloric acid molecules.
Hydrochloride and dihydrochloride are chemical species and inorganic salts consisting of hydrochloric acid components. They differ from each other according to the number of hydrochloric acid molecules reacting with an organic base.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hydrochloride
3. What is Dihydrochloride
4. Hydrochloride vs Dihydrochloride in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Hydrochloride vs Dihydrochloride
What is Hydrochloride?
Hydrochloride is an acid salt that develops from the reaction of hydrochloric acid with an organic base. In other words, it is a chemical compound that forms from the addition of hydrochloric acid molecule to a basic chemical species on a substance. This is also known as chlorhydrate, and an alternating name is muriate.
Figure 1: An example of a dihydrochloride having one molecule of hydrochloric acid associated with an organic base.
There are some important uses of hydrochloride compounds, including the conversion of amines into hydrochlorides, which allows the insoluble amines to dissolve in water well. This characteristic feature is important in manufacturing medications due to the increment of solubility of insoluble organic compounds. Compared to free bases, hydrochlorides readily dissolve in our gastrointestinal tract. It also allows the absorption of the medication into the bloodstream immediately. Additionally, amine hydrochlorides have a long shelf-life compared to the other respective free bases.
What is Dihydrochloride?
Dihydrochloride is a chemical compound consisting of two molecules of hydrochloric acid components associated with the same chemical species. Two common examples of dihydrochloride salt are betahistine dihydrochloride and histamine dihydrochloride.
Figure 2: An example of a dihydrochloride having two molecules of hydrochloric acid associated with an organic base.
Histamine dihydrochloride is a very important medication having the trade name Ceplene. It is a salt of histamine useful as a medication for preventing relapse in patients having acute myeloid leukaemia. It is also an approved analgesic for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains of muscles. We can administer it as a subcutaneous injection or as a topical medication.
Similarities Between Hydrochloride and Dihydrochloride
Both hydrochlorides and dihydrochlorides are inorganic salt compounds consisting of hydrochloric acid components. These salt compounds form from the reaction between an organic base and one or two hydrochloric acid molecules.
Difference Between Hydrochloride and Dihydrochloride
Hydrochloride is an acid salt that originates from the reaction of hydrochloric acid with an organic base while dihydrochloride is a chemical compound consisting of two molecules of hydrochloric acid components associated with the same chemical species. In fact, hydrochlorides and dihydrochlorides differ from each other according to the number of hydrochloric acid molecules reacting with an organic base. The key difference between hydrochloride and dihydrochloride is that hydrochloride compounds form from the reaction between an organic base and a hydrochloric acid molecule, whereas dihydrochloride compounds form from the reaction between an organic base and two hydrochloric acid molecules. Amine hydrochloride is an example of a hydrochloride compound, whereas histamine dihydrochloride is an example of a dihydrochloride.
The following figure presents the difference between hydrochloride and dihydrochloride in tabular form.
Summary – Hydrochloride vs Dihydrochloride
Hydrochloride and dihydrochloride are inorganic salts consisting of hydrochloric acid components. The key difference between hydrochloride and dihydrochloride is that hydrochloride compounds form from the reaction between an organic base and a hydrochloric acid molecule, whereas dihydrochloride compounds form from the reaction between an organic base and two hydrochloric acid molecules.
Reference:
1.“What Is Hydrochloride?” Drugs.com.
2. “Dihydrochloride.” The Free Dictionary, Farlex.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Trimethylammonium chloride Structural Formulae V.1” By Jü – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “2,2′-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride” By Yikrazuul (talk) – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia