* Electronegativity: Chlorine (Cl) is much more electronegative than hydrogen (H). This means chlorine has a stronger pull on shared electrons.

* Polar Covalent Bond: While the bond is covalent (electrons are shared), the unequal sharing due to electronegativity difference creates a polar bond. This means the chlorine end of the molecule has a partial negative charge (δ-), and the hydrogen end has a partial positive charge (δ+).

Important Note: While HCl is a covalent compound, it can ionize in solution, meaning it can dissociate into H+ and Cl- ions when dissolved in water. This is why HCl is considered a strong acid.