Here's why:

* HCL stands for hydrogen chloride.

* Hydrogen chloride (HCl) is a colorless gas at room temperature and pressure.

* It's highly reactive and dissolves readily in water.

* When dissolved in water, it forms hydrochloric acid (HCl(aq)).

So, while we often refer to it as "HCL," it's important to remember that it's actually hydrogen chloride gas before it's dissolved in water.