LAB 5

Empirical Formula of Potassium Chlorate

Purpose: To determine the empirical formula of
potassium chlorate by decomposition into potassium
chloride and oxygen, to write the balanced equation for
this reaction, and to use stoichiometry to calculate the
composition of an unknown mixture of potassium
chlorate and potassium chloride.

Introduction
What do we know about this compound?
Potassium chlorate is a solid crystalline salt
It is a very strong oxidizer
It can easily explode and must be handled
with the utmost care
It contains oxygen which is easily liberated
upon heating
When heated, the solid residue that remains
after the release of oxygen is potassium
chloride

Background
What is the actual reaction?
The basic elements that make up potassium chlorate
are K, Cl, & O
A catalyst needs to be used to facilitate the reaction
The potassium chloride can be recovered by heating
the test tube to drive out the oxygen as a vapor (gas)
The mass of the dry potassium chloride can then be
determined as well as the amount of oxygen liberated.
The unbalanced equation for this reaction is:
Potassium chlorate(s) potassium chloride(s) + oxygen(g)

Procedure Part 1
Weigh the empty test tube provided (containing the
catalyst).
Weigh approximately 1.000g of potassium chlorate
crystals and transfer into the empty test tube.
Weigh and accurately record the mass of the test tube
and sample.
Hold the test tube over the Bunsen burner flame and
heat gently to allow the potassium chlorate to react.
To prevent splattering of the potassium chlorate,
continuously shake the test tube over the flame making
sure to point the opening toward the wall and not
toward yourself or any of your classmates.
When the solid residue appears dry, let the test tube
cool to room temperature and then weigh and
accurately record the mass of the test tube and residue.

Procedure Part 2
Repeat Part 1 using the unknown provided.
The unknown contains a mixture of both
potassium chlorate and potassium chloride.
Write the balanced equation for the
decomposition reaction in Part 1.
Using the balanced equation, determine the
composition of the unknown.

Data and Calculations Part 1

(mass of the test tube and sample) (mass
of the empty test tube) = mass of the
sample
(mass of the test tube and residue) (mass
of the empty test tube) = mass of the
residue
(mass of the sample) (mass of the
residue) = mass of the oxygen
Convert grams to moles and determine
the ratio of each to find the empirical
formula for potassium chlorate

Data and Calculations

Mass of the
empty test
tube (g)

Mass of the
test tube +
sample (g)

Mass of the
test tube +
residue (g)

Mass of the
potassium
chloride (g)

Mass of the
oxygen (g)

Mass of the
sample (g)

Mass of the
residue (g)

Moles of
potassium
chloride (mol)

Moles of
oxygen (mol)

Data and Calculations

Divide each by the smallest number of moles
determined
The ratio is the subscripts for the KCl and O in
the formula or KCl:O in whole numbers
Therefore, what is the empirical formula for
potassium chlorate?

Part 2 calculations will be done together when

we get to stoichiometry in lecture.

Summary
Report your experimentally determined
empirical formula.
Compare your results in Part 1 to what you
know should be the empirical formula based on
the ionic compound made up of potassium and
chlorate ions.
Use stoichiometry and write the balanced
equation for this decomposition reaction.
Determine the composition of the unknown.

Formal Write-Up
Your formal write-up must be in the following format:
Title
Purpose (reason for doing the lab)
Background (hypothesis and background information on
chemicals, reactions and theories)
Procedure (just refer to pg # in your lab notebook)
Data & Calculations (all data, calculations and graphs are
presented neatly in tables & in an electronic format)
Conclusion (the discussion of how your hypothesis and
data correlate & a summary of the overall experiment
including statistical interpretations)