Potassium Chlorate, Making

The fact that the spent cartridge cases in Table 21.4 were not analyzed for potassium or chlorine to indicate potassium chlorate makes interpretation difficult. Nevertheless, Table 21.4 does support the history of primer development as outlined in Chapter 9. 

Yokagawa Electric Works has developed a thermometer based on the nuclear quadmpole resonance of potassium chlorate, usable over the range from —184 to 125°C. This thermometer makes use of the fundamental properties of the absorption frequency of the Cl nucleus, and its caUbration is itself a constant of nature. 

Sodium chlorate stored in closed containers detonated because of its confinement and the heat given off by a nearby fire. For a reason that was not specified, a stock of 80 tonnes of potassium chlorate detonated. Regarding this accident the authors make the assumption that the decomposition reaction of this compound would be the following ... 

To make oxygen, potassium chlorate was heated with manganese dioxide. The manganese dioxide catalyzed the reaction and the potassium chlorate decomposed (broke down into its parts) ... 

The halic acids may not be industrially important, but their salts certainly are. Sodium chlorate is produced in enormous quantities and used in processes in which its oxidizing strength makes it a versatile bleach. One such use is in making paper, and potassium chlorate is used as the oxidizing agent in matches. The decomposition of potassium chlorate was discussed in Chapter 13 in connection with the laboratory preparation of oxygen. 

The oxygen makes up only part of the potassium chlorate. Thus, we would expect less than 5.0 g of oxygen, as was calculated. 

Many of the oxidizers should be familiar to those experienced in investigating bombings. Prime examples are NH4NO3 (ammonium nitrate) and KCIO3 (potassium chlorate), both of which are utilized to make bombs on a regular basis. Other materials may appear more exotic but have equal destructive potential. It should be noted that some oxidizer families such as chlorates, nitrites, and peroxides are very reactive. When used in IE formulations, these oxidizers can create very sensitive mixtures, which need to be approached with extreme caution. 

The famous Chinese firecracker uses a mixture of potassium chlorate, sulfur, and aluminum. The chlorate combined with sulfur makes this mixture doubly dangerous for the manufacturer. The ignition temperature of the potassium chlorate/sulfur system is less than 200°C The presence of aluminum - an excellent fuel - guarantees that the pyrotechnic reaction will rapidly propagate once it begins. Safety data from China is unavailable, but one has to wonder how many accidents occur annually from the preparation of this firecracker composition. The preparation of potassium chlorate/sulfur compositions was banned in Great Britain in 1894 because of the numerous accidents associated with this mixture ... 

Potassium chlorate is monoclinic it has strong negative birefringence, and the vibration direction for the lowest refractive index lies in the ac plane, making an angle of 56° with the c axis. The conclusion that the low pyramidal (that is, more or less flat) chlorate ions have their oxygen triangles normal to this direction of least refractive index is correct within 1° (Zachariasen, 1929). 

Picric acid added in small quantities to colors deepens them and increases their brilliancy without making them burn much faster. Stars containing picric acid ought not to be used in aerial shells, for they are likely to detonate either from the shock of setback or later from being ignited in a confined space. Mixtures which contain picric acid along with potassium chlorate or salts of heavy metals are liable to detonate from shock. 

The history of chlorate explosives goes back as far as 1788 when Berthollet attempted to make a new and more powerful gunpowder by incorporating in a stamp mill a mixture of potassium chlorate with sulfur and charcoal. He used the materials in the proportion 6/1/1. A party, had been organized to witness the manufacture, M. and Mme. Lavoisier, Berthollet, the Commis-saire M. de Chevraud and his daughter, the engineer M. Lefort, and others. The mill was started, and the party went away for... 

The commercial method of making potassium chlorate is by the electrolysis of a potassium chloride solution. What are the primary products formed at the two electrodes Explain how, when the primary products are allowed to mix in the cell, the reactions are similar to those of this and the preceding preparations. 

Currently there are about 200,000 ionic compounds known to man (most of them being synthetic). The most common ionic compound is table salt or sodium chloride. Some common examples of ionic compounds include potassium permanganate, sodium azide, sodium nitrate, potassium chloride, sodium fluoride, potassium chlorate, and zinc sulfate. Ionic compounds make up the majority of the earth, solar system, and the universe. 

Q O 47.9 g of potassium chlorate, KCIO3, is used to make a solution with a concentration of 0.650 mol/L. What is the volume of the solution ... 

Some substances make a loud sound upon exploding and others hardly make a sound in drop ball impact sensitivity tests. The simple contact mixture of potassium chlorate and red phosphorus is one of the substances which makes loud sound when exploding. About a lOOdB (A-fast) noise is measured at a distance of 3m. The frequency distribution is shown in Figure 3.19 J 21. However the mixture does not always make the same explosive sound sometimes it makes softer sound, and other times, no sound at all. Sporting paper caps and toy paper caps cause loud noises with narrow frequency... 

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