Sodium perchlorate

Sodium perchlorate
Other names	Sodium chlorate(VII) Sodium hyperchlorate Perchloric acid, sodium salt
Identifiers
CAS number	7601-89-0 Y
PubChem	522606
EC number	231-511-9
UN number	1502
RTECS number	SC9800000
Properties
Molecular formula	NaClO4
Molar mass	122.44 g/mol
Appearance	White crystalline solid
Density	2.4994 g/cm3
Melting point	130 °C (monohydrate) >400 °C (decomp.)
Solubility in water	Soluble, Hygroscopic
Related compounds
Other anions	Sodium chloride Sodium hypochlorite Sodium chlorite Sodium chlorate
Other cations	Lithium perchlorate Potassium perchlorate Ammonium perchlorate Barium perchlorate
Related compounds	Perchloric acid
Y (what is this?)  (verify) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Sodium perchlorate is a perchlorate of sodium and has the formula NaClO₄. Sodium perchlorate melts with decomposition at 480 °C.^[1] Its heat of formation is −382.75 kJ mol⁻¹.^[2] It is a white crystalline, hygroscopic solid that is soluble in water and in alcohol. It usually comes as the monohydrate, which has a rhombic crystal structure.

Uses

The present major use of perchlorate salts is as oxidizers in solid propellants such as NASA's solid rocket boosters. The potassium salt was first used and quickly followed by what is now the more important salt, ammonium perchlorate. Lithium perchlorate, which has the highest weight percentage of oxygen of all perchlorates, has been tested as an oxidizer in solid propellants, but has not found favor with propellant manufacturers due to its hygroscopicity.

Sodium perchlorate itself finds only minimal use in pyrotechnics because it is hygroscopic; ammonium and potassium perchlorates are preferred. They are made by double decomposition from a solution of sodium perchlorate and potassium or ammonium chlorides.

It is also used in standard DNA extraction and hybridization reactions in molecular biology.

Synthesis

Sodium perchlorate is manufactured by anodic oxidation of sodium chloride or sodium chlorate at high current density, with platinum (or in some cases, lead dioxide, manganese dioxide, and possibly magnetite and cobalt oxide) anodes and graphite, steel, nickel, or titanium cathodes.^[3]

ClO₃⁻ + H₂O → ClO₄⁻ + 2 H⁺ + 2 e⁻

See also

• Sodium chlorate
• Potassium chlorate
• Potassium perchlorate

References