Chlorate: Encyclopedia - Chlorate

Chlorate

Chlorate - Definition

The chlorate ion ClO₃^-.

A chlorate (compound) is a compound that contains this group, with chlorine in oxidation state +5.

Chlorate - Examples

• potassium chlorate, KClO₃

• sodium chlorate, NaClO₃

• magnesium chlorate, Mg(ClO₃)₂

See category for a bigger list.

Chlorate - Preparation

Metal chlorates can be prepared by adding Chlorine to hot metal hydroxides, for example, KClO₃:

3Cl₂ + 6KOH → 5KCl + KClO₃ + 3H₂O

Chlorate - Discussion

Chlorates are the salts of chloric acid.

Chlorates are powerful oxidizers and should be kept away from organics or easily reducible materials. Chlorates were once widely used in pyrotechnics, though their use has fallen due to their instability. Most pyrotechnic applications which used chlorates in the past now use perchlorates instead.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Chlorate", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki