What Is KClO3?

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KClO3 is also known as potassium chlorate. Potassium chlorate is a compound which contains potassium, chlorine and oxygen atoms. KClO3 is the molecular formula used to denote potassium chlorate in chemical equations. It is a white crystalline substance when in pure form.

Students of chemistry are introduced to this chemical in the chemistry lab, where they are taught how to create the compound. There are a few ways of producing potassium chlorate. In the industrial scale, it is formed by passing chlorine into hot milk of lime, after which potassium chloride is added to it subsequently. Disproportionation in a sodium hypochlorite solution which is followed by metathesis reaction with potassium chloride can produce small quantity of potassium chlorate.

There are various uses of this compound. It was one of the major elements of firearms and has continued to be used in that application even today. Propellants made of chlorate are not very susceptible to damage by water. Plus, they are much better than traditional gunpowder, but are very expensive in comparison to it. When mixed with silver fulminate, it acts as an artificial noisemaker, which is mostly used in fire-crackers.

If potassium chlorate is mixed with a suitable fuel, it forms a Sprengel explosive. It needs to be handled with a lot of care or else it could lead to huge accidents causing unfathomable destruction. One needs to handle its temperature very carefully in order to avoid any kind of mishaps. Plus, the compound must be free from any kind of impurities, so that it does not react suddenly.

The molecular mass of the compound is 122.55g/mol, its melting point is 356’C, its boiling point is 400’C, and its density is 2.34g/cm3. Its solubility in water is 7.19 g/100 ml (20 °C), 8.61 g/100 m: (25 °C) and 57 g/100 ml (100 °C). It is soluble in glycerol and negligibly soluble in acetone and liquid ammonia. The refractive index of KClO3 is 1.40835 (nD)

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