Potassium chlorate

Potassium chlorate is a compound

containing potassium, chlorine and
oxygen, with the molecular formula
KClO3. In its pure form, it is a white
crystalline substance. It is the most
common chlorate in industrial use. It is
used,

as an oxidizing agent,
to prepare oxygen,
as a disinfectant,
in safety matches,
in explosives and fireworks,
in cultivation, forcing the blossoming
stage of the longan tree, causing it to
produce fruit in warmer climates.[6]
 Potassium chlorate

Names

Other names
Potassium chlorate(V), Potcrate

Identifiers
CAS Number 3811-04-9  

3D model (JSmol) Interactive image

ChemSpider 18512  

ECHA InfoCard 100.021.173

EC Number 223-289-7
PubChem CID 6426889
RTECS number FO0350000

UNII H35KS68EE7  

UN number 1485
CompTox Dashboard DTXSID6047448
(EPA)

InChI
InChI=1S/ClHO3.K/c2-1(3)4;/h(H,2,3,4);/q;+1/p-1 
Key: VKJKEPKFPUWCAS-UHFFFAOYSA-M 

InChI=1/ClHO3.K/c2-1(3)4;/h(H,2,3,4);/q;+1/p-1
Key: VKJKEPKFPUWCAS-REWHXWOFAC

SMILES
[K+].[O-]Cl(=O)=O

Properties
Chemical formula KClO3

Molar mass 122.55 g mol−1

Appearance white crystals or

powder

Density 2.32 g/cm3

Melting point 356 °C (673 °F; 629 K)

Boiling point 400 °C (752 °F; 673 K)

 decomposes[1]
Solubility in water 3.13 g/100 mL (0 °C)
4.46 g/100 mL (10 °C)
8.15 g/100 mL (25 °C)
13.21 g/100 mL (40
°C)
53.51 g/100 mL (100
°C)
183 g/100 g (190 °C)
2930 g/100 g (330
°C)[2]
Solubility soluble in glycerol
negligible in acetone
and liquid ammonia[1]

Solubility in glycerol 1 g/100 g (20 °C)[1]

Magnetic susceptibility −42.8·10−6 cm3/mol
(χ)
Refractive index (nD) 1.40835

Structure
Crystal structure monoclinic

Thermochemistry
Heat capacity (C) 100.25 J/mol·K[1]
Std molar 142.97 J/mol·K[3][1]
entropy (So298)
Std enthalpy of −391.2 kJ/mol[3][1]
formation (ΔfH⦵298)
Gibbs free energy -289.9 kJ/mol[1]
(ΔfG˚)
Hazards

Safety data sheet ICSC 0548

GHS pictograms [4]

GHS signal word Danger

GHS hazard H271, H302, H332,
statements
H411[4]
GHS precautionary P220, P273[4]
statements
NFPA 704 0
2 3
OX
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose) 1870 mg/kg (oral,
rat)[5]

Related compounds
Other anions Potassium bromate
Potassium iodate
Potassium nitrate
Other cations Ammonium chlorate
Sodium chlorate
Barium chlorate
Related compounds Potassium chloride
Potassium
hypochlorite
Potassium chlorite
Potassium perchlorate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given
for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C
[77 °F], 100 kPa).

 verify (what is   ?)

 Infobox references

Production
On the industrial scale, potassium
chlorate is produced by the Liebig
process: passing chlorine into hot
calcium hydroxide, subsequently adding
potassium chloride:[7]

6 Ca(OH)2 + 6 Cl2 → Ca(ClO3)2 + 5

CaCl2 + 6 H2O
Ca(ClO3)2 + 2 KCl → 2 KClO3 + CaCl2

The electrolysis of KCl in aqueous

solution is also used sometimes, in
which elemental chlorine formed at the
anode react with KOH in situ. The low
solubility of KClO3 in water causes the
salt to conveniently isolate itself from the
reaction mixture by simply precipitating
out of solution.

Potassium chlorate can be produced in

small amounts by disproportionation in a
sodium hypochlorite solution followed by
metathesis reaction with potassium
chloride:[8]

3 NaOCl(aq) → 2 NaCl(s) + NaClO3(aq)

KCl(aq) + NaClO3(aq) → NaCl(aq) +
KClO3(s)

It can also be produced by passing

chlorine gas into a hot solution of caustic
potash:[9]
 3 Cl2(g) + 6 KOH(aq) → KClO3(aq) + 5
KCl(aq) + 3 H2O(l)

Uses

Potassium chlorate burning sugar

Potassium chlorate was one key

ingredient in early firearms percussion
caps (primers). It continues in that
application, where not supplanted by
potassium perchlorate.

Chlorate-based propellants are more

efficient than traditional gunpowder and
are less susceptible to damage by water.
However, they can be extremely unstable
in the presence of sulfur or phosphorus
and are much more expensive. Chlorate
propellants must be used only in
equipment designed for them; failure to
follow this precaution is a common
source of accidents. Potassium chlorate,
often in combination with silver
fulminate, is used in trick noise-makers
known as "crackers", "snappers", "pop-
its", or "bang-snaps", a popular type of
novelty firework.

Another application of potassium

chlorate is as the oxidizer in a smoke
composition such as that used in smoke
grenades. Since 2005, a cartridge with
potassium chlorate mixed with lactose
and rosin is used for generating the white
smoke signalling the election of new
pope by a papal conclave.[10]

Potassium chlorate is often used in high

school and college laboratories to
generate oxygen gas. It is a far cheaper
source than a pressurized or cryogenic
oxygen tank. Potassium chlorate readily
decomposes if heated while in contact
with a catalyst, typically manganese(IV)
dioxide (MnO2). Thus, it may be simply
placed in a test tube and heated over a
burner. If the test tube is equipped with a
one-holed stopper and hose, warm
oxygen can be drawn off. The reaction is
as follows:

2 KClO3(s) → 3 O2(g) + 2 KCl(s)

Heating it in the absence of a catalyst

converts it into potassium perchlorate:[9]

4 KClO3 → 3 KClO4 + KCl

With further heating, potassium

perchlorate decomposes to potassium
chloride and oxygen:

KClO4 → KCl + 2 O2

The safe performance of this reaction

requires very pure reagents and careful
temperature control. Molten potassium
chlorate is an extremely powerful
oxidizer and spontaneously reacts with
many common materials such as sugar.
Explosions have resulted from liquid
chlorates spattering into the latex or PVC
tubes of oxygen generators, as well as
from contact between chlorates and
hydrocarbon sealing greases. Impurities
in potassium chlorate itself can also
cause problems. When working with a
new batch of potassium chlorate, it is
advisable to take a small sample
(~1 gram) and heat it strongly on an
open glass plate. Contamination may
cause this small quantity to explode,
indicating that the chlorate should be
discarded.
Potassium chlorate is used in chemical
oxygen generators (also called chlorate
candles or oxygen candles), employed as
oxygen-supply systems of e.g. aircraft,
space stations, and submarines, and has
been responsible for at least one plane
crash. A fire on the space station Mir was
also traced to this substance. The
decomposition of potassium chlorate
was also used to provide the oxygen
supply for limelights.

Potassium chlorate is used also as a

pesticide. In Finland it was sold under
trade name Fegabit.

Potassium chlorate can react with

sulfuric acid to form a highly reactive
solution of chloric acid and potassium
sulfate:

2 KClO3 + H2SO4 → 2 HClO3 + K2SO4

The solution so produced is sufficiently

reactive that it spontaneously ignites if
combustible material (sugar, paper, etc.)
is present.

In schools, molten potassium chlorate is

used in the dramatic screaming jelly
babies, Haribo and Gummy bear candy
demonstration.

In chemical labs it is used to oxidize HCl

and release small amounts of gaseous
chlorine.
Insurgents in Afghanistan also use
potassium chlorate extensively as a key
component in the production of
improvised explosive devices. When
significant effort was made to reduce the
availability of ammonium nitrate fertilizer
in Afghanistan, IED makers started using
potassium chlorate as a cheap and
effective alternative. In 2013, 60% of IEDs
in Afghanistan used potassium chlorate,
making it the most common ingredient
used in IEDs.[11] Potassium Chlorate was
also the main ingredient in the car bomb
used in 2002 Bali bombings that killed
202 people.

Safety
Potassium chlorate should be handled
with care. It reacts vigorously, and in
some cases spontaneously ignites or
explodes, when mixed with many
combustible materials. It burns
vigorously in combination with virtually
any combustible material, even those
normally only slightly flammable
(including ordinary dust and lint).
Mixtures of potassium chlorate and a
fuel can ignite by contact with sulfuric
acid, so it should be kept away from this
reagent. Sulfur should be avoided in
pyrotechnic compositions containing
potassium chlorate, as these mixtures
are prone to spontaneous deflagration.
Most sulfur contains trace quantities of
sulfur-containing acids, and these can
cause spontaneous ignition - "Flowers of
sulfur" or "sublimed sulfur", despite the
overall high purity, contains significant
amounts of sulfur acids. Also, mixtures
of potassium chlorate with any
compound with ignition promoting
properties (ex. antimony(III) sulfide) are
very dangerous to prepare, as they are
extremely shock sensitive.

See also
Chloric acid

References
1. "potassium chlorate" . Retrieved
9 July 2015.
2. Seidell, Atherton; Linke, William F.
(1952). Solubilities of Inorganic and
Organic Compounds . Van
Nostrand. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
3. Zumdahl, Steven S. (2009).
Chemical Principles 6th Ed.
Houghton Mifflin Company. p. A22.
ISBN 0-618-94690-X.
4. "Potassium chlorate" . Retrieved
9 July 2015.
5. Michael Chambers. "ChemIDplus -
3811-04-9 - VKJKEPKFPUWCAS-
UHFFFAOYSA-M - Potassium
chlorate - Similar structures search,
synonyms, formulas, resource links,
and other chemical information" .
Retrieved 9 July 2015.
6. Manochai, P.; Sruamsiri, P.; Wiriya-
alongkorn, W.; Naphrom, D.; Hegele,
M.; Bangerth, F. (February 12, 2005).
"Year around off season flower
induction in longan (Dimocarpus
longan, Lour.) trees by KClO3
applications: potentials and
problems" . Scientia Horticulturae.
Department of Horticulture, Maejo
University, Chiang Mai, Thailand;
Department of Horticulture, Chiang
Mai University, Chiang Mai,
Thailand; Institute of Special Crops
and Crop Physiology, University of
Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart,
Germany. 104 (4): 379–390.
 doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2005.01.004 .
Retrieved November 28, 2010.
7. Реми, Г. Курс неорганической
химиию, т. 1/Перевод с
немецкого под ред. А. В.
Новосёловой. Москва:Мир, 1972.-
с. 770//(translated from:) Heinrich
Remy. Lehrbuch der anorganischen
Chemie. XI Auflage. Band 1.
Leipzig:Geest & Portig K.-G., 1960.
8. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
"Potassium Chlorate Synthesis
(Substitute) Formula" . About.com
Education. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
 9. Pradyot Patnaik. Handbook of
Inorganic Chemicals. McGraw-Hill,
2002, ISBN 0-07-049439-8
10. Daniel J. Wakin and Alan Cowell
(March 13, 2013). "New Round of
Voting Fails to Name a Pope" . The
New York Times. Retrieved
March 13, 2013.
11. "Afghan bomb makers shifting to
new explosives for IEDs" .
USAToday.com. June 25, 2013.
Retrieved 2013-06-25.
"Chlorate de potassium. Chlorate de
sodium", Fiche toxicol. n° 217,
Paris:Institut national de recherche et
de sécurité, 2000. 4pp.
 Continuous process for the
manufacture of potassium chlorate by
coupling with a sodium chlorate
production plant

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