Characteristic

 

Potassium chlorate is a compound containing potassium, chlorine and oxygen, with the molecular formula KClO₃. In its pure form, it is a white crystalline substance. It is the most common chlorate in industrial use.

Chemical formula:KClO₃

Molar mass:122.55 g/mol

Appearance:white crystals or powder

Density:2.32 g/cm³

Melting point:356 °C (673 °F; 629 K)

Boiling point:400 °C (752 °F; 673 K) decomposes

Solubility in water:3.13 g/100 mL (0 °C);4.46 g/100 mL (10 °C);8.15 g/100 mL (25 °C);13.21 g/100 mL (40 °C);53.51 g/100 mL (100 °C);183 g/100 g (190 °C);2930 g/100 g (330 °C)

Solubility:soluble in glycerol;negligible in acetone and liquid ammonia

Solubility in glycerol:1 g/100 g (20 °C)

Magnetic susceptibility (χ):−42.8·10⁻⁶ cm³/mol

Refractive index (nD):1.40835

Crystal structure:monoclinic

 

Application

 

Potassium chlorate is used in textile printing and dyeing, as a disinfectant, in manufacturing of aniline black and other dyes. It can be utilized as a source of oxygen and also used in pyrotechnics and chemistry demonstrations. Potassium chlorate is useful for the flowering of dimocarpus longan and is a highly effective method for off-season fruit production. Potassium chlorate-osmium tetroxide oxidizing system has a useful application for the synthesis of alpha-dicarbonyl derivatives of acetylenic compounds and 2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-dione from a 2,5-dialkylfuran.