Potassium chlorate
chemical compound
Potassium chlorate is the inorganic compound with the molecular formula KClO3. In its pure form, it is a white solid. After sodium chlorate, it is the second most common chlorate in industrial use. It is a strong oxidizing agent and its most important application is in safety matches.
Production
On the industrial scale, potassium chlorate is produced by the salt metathesis reaction of sodium chlorate and potassium chloride:
NaClO3 + KCl → NaCl + KClO3
The reaction is driven by the low solubility of potassium chlorate in water. The equilibrium of the reaction is shifted to the right hand side by the continuous precipitation of the product (Le Chatelier's Principle). The precursor sodium chlorate is produced industrially in very large quantities by electrolysis of sodium chloride, common table salt.
The direct electrolysis of KCl in aqueous solution is also used sometimes, in which elemental chlorine formed at the anode reacts with KOH in situ. The low solubility of KClO3 in water causes the salt to conveniently isolate itself from the reaction mixture by simply precipitating out of solution.
Potassium chlorate can be produced in small amounts by disproportionation in a sodium hypochlorite solution followed by metathesis reaction with potassium chloride:
3 NaOCl → 2 NaCl + NaClO3
KCl + NaClO3 → NaCl + KClO3
It can also be produced by passing chlorine gas into a hot solution of potassium hydroxide:
3 Cl2 + 6 KOH → KClO3 + 5 KCl + 3 H2O
Uses
Potassium chlorate was one key ingredient in early firearms percussion caps (primers).
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