Potassium chlorate

Description

Potassium chlorate, is a transparent, colorless crystal or white powder. It is soluble in boiling water and decomposes at approximately 750°F (398°C), giving off oxygen gas. Potassium chlorate is a strong oxidizer and forms explosive mixtures with combustible materials, such as sugar, sulfur, and others. Potassium chlorate is incompatible with sulfuric acid, other acids, and organic material. The four-digit UN identification number is 1485. Its primary uses are as an oxidizing agent in the manufacture of explosives and matches; in pyrotechnics; and as a source of oxygen. Sodium and potassium chlorates have similar properties. Chlorites are powerful oxidizing agents. They have one less oxygen than the base-state oxysalts. They form explosive mixtures with combustible materials, and in contact with strong acids, they can release explosive chlorine dioxide gas.

Description

Potassium chlorate (KClO3) is a strong oxidizing agent that has a wide variety of uses. It is or has been a component of explosives, fireworks, safety matches, and disinfectants. As a high school or college chemistry student, you may have used it to generate oxygen in the lab.
Because it is a strong oxidizer, KClO3 must be kept from contacting organic matter; reduced inorganic materials such as elemental sulfur, phosphorus; and iodine; and concentrated acids.
The use of KClO3 in matches dates back to 1826, when English chemist John Walker combined it with antimony(III) sulfide, gum, and starch. When formed into matches, the mixture sometimes (but not always) ignited when struck on sandpaper. Later on, white phosphorus replaced antimony sulfide to make matches more reliable. Eventually, the toxic white phosphorus was superseded by the red allotrope.
Modern safety matches contain no phosphorus; but red phosphorus is embedded in the rough surfaces of matchboxes. Upon striking, the phosphorus ignites, liberating oxygen from the match’s KClO3, which in turn ignites combustible substances (e.g., sulfur) in the matchhead.
It’s the holiday season, so you will be forgiven if you don’t think about all of this chemistry when you light your Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa candles.

Chemical properties

Potassium chlorate, KCI03, is transparent, colorless crystals or a white powder that is soluble in water,alcohol, and alkalies,and has a melting point of 356 °C.Used as an oxidizing agent,for explosives and matches, and in textile printing and paper manufacture.

Chemical properties

Potassium chlorate is a white crystalline solid

The Uses of Potassium chlorate

Potassium Chlorate is used in micro-smoke cold fireworks containing bright bead.

The Uses of Potassium chlorate

It is used for source of oxygen.

The Uses of Potassium chlorate

Explosives; fireworks; matches; printing and dyeing cotton and wool black; manufacture of aniline black and other dyes; source of oxygen; in chemical analyses.

The Uses of Potassium chlorate

Used (1) in matches, (2) in pyrotechnics, (3) as disinfectant, (4) as a source of oxygen upon heating. (Hazardous! Use of potassium perchlorate is recommended instead.)

What are the applications of Application

Potassium chlorate is a useful oxidizing agent for oxygen preparetion

Definition

potassium chlorate: A colourlesscrystalline compound, KClO₃, whichis soluble in water and moderatelysoluble in ethanol; monoclinic; r.d.2.32; m.p. 356°C; decomposes above400°C giving off oxygen. The industrialroute to potassium chlorate involvesthe fractional crystallization ofa solution of potassium chloride andsodium chlorate but it may also beprepared by electrolysis of hot concentratedsolutions of potassiumchloride. It is a powerful oxidizingagent finding applications in weedkillersand disinfectants and, becauseof its ability to produce oxygen, it isused in explosives, pyrotechnics, andmatches.

General Description

A colorless liquid. Denser than water. Contact may irritate skin, eyes and mucous membranes. May be toxic by ingestion. Used to make other chemicals. Ignites organic materials upon contact .

Air & Water Reactions

Soluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Metal chlorates are oxidants in the presence of strong acid; liberates explosive chlorine dioxide gas; liberates chlorine dioxide and carbon dioxide by heating a moist metal chlorate and a dibasic organic acid ; mixtures of perchlorates with sulfur or phosphorus are explosives [Bretherick 1979. p. 100]; mixtures of the chlorate with ammonium salts, powdered metals, silicon, sulfur, or sulfides are readily ignited and potentially explosive [Bretherick 1979. p. 806]. A combination of finely divided aluminum with finely divided bromates (also chlorates and iodates) of barium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, or zinc can explode by heat, percussion, and friction [Mellor 2:310 1946-47]. An explosion occurred during heating of a mixture of potassium chlorate and magnesium [Chem. Eng. News 14:451. 1936]. Gaseous ammonia, mixed with air reacts so vigorously with potassium chlorate that the reaction could become dangerous [Mellor 8:217. 1946-47]. A mixture of potassium chlorate and sodium amide explodes [Mellor 8:258. 1946-47]. If a drop of a solution of sulfur dioxide in ether or alcohol is added to powdered potassium chlorate, the mass explodes [Mellor 2:311. 1946-47]. Potassium chlorate and sulfuric acid react to cause fire and possible explosions [Mellor 2:315. 1946-47].

Hazard

Forms explosive mixture with combustible materials (sulfur, sugar, etc.); strong oxidizing agent.

Health Hazard

Inhalation, ingestion or contact (skin, eyes) with vapors or substance may cause severe injury, burns or death. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.

Fire Hazard

These substances will accelerate burning when involved in a fire. Some may decompose explosively when heated or involved in a fire. May explode from heat or contamination. Some will react explosively with hydrocarbons (fuels). May ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Containers may explode when heated. Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard.

Flammability and Explosibility

Non flammable

Industrial uses

Also known as chlorate of potash and potassiumoxymuriate, this is a white crystalline powder,or lustrous crystalline substance, of the compositionKClO₃, employed in explosives, chieflyas a source of oxygen. It is also used as anoxidizing agent in the chemical industry, as acardiac stimulant in medicine, and in toothpaste.It melts at 357°C and decomposes at400°C with the rapid evolution of oxygen. It isodorless but has a slightly bitter saline taste.The specific gravity is 2.337. It is not hygroscopic,but is soluble in water. It imparts a violetcolor to the flame in pyrotechnic compositions.

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic to humans by an unspecified route. Moderately toxic experimentally by ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. A gastrointestinal tract and kidney irritant. Can cause hemolysis of red blood cells and methemoglobinemia. Toxic dose to a human is about 5 g.

Potential Exposure

Potassium chlorate is used in the manufacture of soap, glass, pottery, and many potassium salts; as an oxidizing agent; in explosives; matches, textile printing; disinfectants, and bleaching.

Shipping

UN1479 Potassium chlorate, Hazard Class: 5.1; Labels: 5.1-Oxidizer. UN2427 Potassium chlorate, aqueous solution, Hazard Class: 5.1; Labels: 5.1-Oxidizer, Technical Name Required.

Purification Methods

It has been recrystallised from water (1.8mL/g) between 100o and 0o, and the crystals were filtered onto sintered glass. Keep away from organic material as it oxidises them readily.

Incompatibilities

A strong oxidizer. Potentially explosive. Decomposes on heating above 400C, on contact with strong acids producing toxic fumes including chlorine dioxide, chlorine fume, s and oxygen. Violent reaction with combustibles, oxidizers, strong acids; and reducing materials. Attacks many metals in presence of water.