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Potassium perchlorate

 
Sci-Tech Dictionary: potassium perchlorate
(pə′tas·ē·əm pər′klör′āt)

(inorganic chemistry) KClO4 Explosive, oxidative, colorless crystals; soluble in water, insoluble in alcohol; decomposes at 400°C; used in explosives, medicine, pyrotechnics, analysis, and as a reagent and oxidizing agent. Also known as potassium hyperchlorate.


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Potassium perchlorate
Potassium perchlorate.png
Potassium-perchlorate-unit-cell-3D-balls-perspective.png
Potassium-perchlorate-xtal-3D-SF.png
Other names Potassium chlorate(VII)
Perchloric acid, potassium salt
peroidin
Identifiers
CAS number 7778-74-7 Yes check.svgY
PubChem 516900
EC number 231-912-9
UN number 1489
RTECS number SC9700000
Properties
Molecular formula KClO4
Molar mass 138.55 g/mol
Appearance Colourless/white crystalline powder
Density 2.5239 g/cm3
Melting point

525 °C

Boiling point

600 °C (decomp.)

Solubility in water 0.75 g/100 mL (0 °C)
1.5 g/100 mL (25 °C)[1]
21.8 g/100 mL (100 °C)
Solubility negligible in alcohol
insoluble in ether
Structure
Crystal structure rhombohedral
Hazards
MSDS MSDS
EU Index 017-008-00-5
EU classification Oxidant (O)
Harmful (Xn)
R-phrases R9, R22
S-phrases (S2), S13, S22, S27
NFPA 704
NFPA 704.svg
0
1
1
OX
Related compounds
Other anions Potassium chloride
Potassium chlorate
Potassium periodate
Other cations Ammonium perchlorate
Sodium perchlorate
 Yes check.svgY (what is this?)  (verify)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Potassium perchlorate is the inorganic salt with the chemical formula KClO4. Like other perchlorates, this salt is a strong oxidizer and reacts with many organic substances. It is usually obtained as a colorless, crystalline powder. It is one of the most common oxidizers used in fireworks, ammunition percussion caps, explosive primers, and is used variously in propellants, flash compositions, stars, and sparklers. It has been used as a solid rocket propellant, although in that application it has mostly been replaced by the higher performance ammonium perchlorate. KClO4 has the lowest solubility of the alkali metal perchlorates (1.5 g in 100 g of water at 25 °C).[1]

Contents

Production

Potassium perchlorate is produced by double decomposition reaction with sodium perchlorate and potassium chloride. Sodium perchlorate is manufactured by anodic oxidation of sodium chloride.[2]

Oxidizing properties

KClO4 is an oxidizer in the sense that it exothermically transfers oxygen to organic compounds. Thus, with glucose it gives carbon dioxide:

3 KClO4 + C6H12O6 → 6 H2O + 6 CO2 + 3 KCl

The conversion of solid glucose into hot gaseous CO2 is the basis of the explosive force of such mixtures. Even with cane sugar, KClO4 yields a low explosive, provided the necessary confinement. Otherwise such mixtures simply deflagrate with an intense purple flame characteristic of potassium. Flash compositions used in firecrackers usually consist of fine aluminium powder mixed with potassium perchlorate.

As an oxidizer, potassium perchlorate can be used safely in the presence of sulfur, whereas potassium chlorate cannot. The greater reactivity of chlorate is typical - perchlorates are kinetically poorer oxidants. Chlorate produces chloric acid, which is highly unstable and can lead to premature ignition of the composition. Correspondingly, perchloric acid is quite stable whereas chloric acid is not.[3]

In medicine

Potassium perchlorate can be used as an antithyroid agent used to treat hyperthyroidism, usually in combination with one other medication. This application exploits the similar ionic radii and hydrophilicity of perchlorate and iodide.

References

  1. ^ a b "Potassium Perchlorate MSDS". J.T. Baker. 2007-02-16. http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/P5983.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-10. 
  2. ^ Perchlorate Production
  3. ^ Greenwood, N. N.; Earnshaw, A. (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd Edn.), Oxford:Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-3365-4.

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