Potassium chlorate products

Unexpectedly we find that the bromate(V) ion in acid solution (i.e. effectively bromic(V) acid) is a more powerful oxidising agent than the chlorate(V) ion, CIO3. The halates(V) are thermally unstable and can evolve oxygen as one of the decomposition products. Potassium chlorate(V), when heated, first melts, then resolidifies due to the formation of potassium chlorate(VII) (perchlorate) ... 

Pyrotechnic mixtures may also contain additional components that are added to modify the bum rate, enhance the pyrotechnic effect, or serve as a binder to maintain the homogeneity of the blended mixture and provide mechanical strength when the composition is pressed or consoHdated into a tube or other container. These additional components may also function as oxidizers or fuels in the composition, and it can be anticipated that the heat output, bum rate, and ignition sensitivity may all be affected by the addition of another component to a pyrotechnic composition. An example of an additional component is the use of a catalyst, such as iron oxide, to enhance the decomposition rate of ammonium perchlorate. Diatomaceous earth or coarse sawdust may be used to slow up the bum rate of a composition, or magnesium carbonate (an acid neutralizer) may be added to help stabilize mixtures that contain an acid-sensitive component such as potassium chlorate. Binders include such materials as dextrin (partially hydrolyzed starch), various gums, and assorted polymers such as poly(vinyl alcohol), epoxies, and polyesters. Polybutadiene mbber binders are widely used as fuels and binders in the soHd propellant industry. The production of colored flames is enhanced by the presence of chlorine atoms in the pyrotechnic flame, so chlorine donors such as poly(vinyl chloride) or chlorinated mbber are often added to color-producing compositions, where they also serve as fuels. 

Manufacture. Most chlorate is manufactured by the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution in electrochemical cells without diaphragms. Potassium chloride can be electroly2ed for the direct production of potassium chlorate (35,36), but because sodium chlorate is so much more soluble (see Fig. 2), the production of the sodium salt is generally preferred. Potassium chlorate may be obtained from the sodium chlorate by a metathesis reaction with potassium chloride (37). 

Chlorine dioxide, discovered in 1811 by Davy, was prepared from the reaction of potassium chlorate with hydrochloric acid. Early experimentation showed that chlorine dioxide exhibited strong oxidizing and bleaching properties. In the 1930s, the Mathieson Alkali Works developed the first commercial process for preparing chlorine dioxide from sodium chlorate. By 1939, sodium chlorite was established as a commercial product for the generation of chlorine dioxide. 

The first large-scale use of chlorine was for bleaching paper and cotton textiles it also is widely used as a germicide for public water supplies. Presently it is used principally in production of the chemical compounds sulfur chloride, thionyl chloride, phosgene, aluminum chloride, iron(ni) chloride, titaniura(IV) chloride, tin(IV) chloride, and potassium chlorate. 

Upon heating anthraquinone with fuming sulphuric acid at 160° for about 1 hour, the main product Is anthraquinone-p-sulphonic acid, which is isolated as the sparingly soluble sodium salt. The latter when heated imder pressure with sodium hydroxide solution and an oxidising agent (sodium or potassium chlorate) yields first the corresponding hydroxy compound further hydroxy-lation occurs in the a-position through oxidation by the chlorate and 1 2-di-hydroxyanthraquinone (alizarin) is formed. 

Theoretically, all chemical reactions are reversible. There are, however, many reactions in which the extent of the reverse reaction (i.e., combination of the products to produce the reactants) is very small as to be considered negligible. Such reactions which are ordinarily found to proceed to completion in one direction are said to be irreversible reactions. The decomposition of potassium chlorate... 

Potassium perchlorate (KP KCIO4) is a weU-known oxidizer, used as an oxidizer component of black powder. Since KP produces potassium oxides and condensed products, the high molecular mass Mg of the combustion products is not favorable for its use as an oxidizer in rocket propellants. A mixture of 75 % KP with 25 % asphalt pitch was used as a rocket propellant named Galcit, which was the original prototype of a composite propellant in the 1940 s. Potassium chlorate (KCIO3) is also a crystalline oxidizer, and although it has a lower oxygen content compared... 

Potassium chlorate may be prepared by mixing concentrated solutions of sodium chlorate and potassium chloride. Potassium chlorate crystallizes when the solubility product [K+] [ClOs j is exceeded. 

If this reaction occurs, the chance of spontaneous ignition of the mixture is likely. Therefore, any composition containing both a chlorate salt and an ammonium salt must be considered extremely hazardous. The shipping regulations of the United States Department of Transportation classify any such mixtures as "forbidden explosives" because of their instability [8]. However, compositions consisting of potassium chlorate, ammonium chloride, and organic fuels have been used, reportedly safely, for white smoke production [Ij. 

Potassium nitrate is frequently used in igniters and first fires. Compositions made with this oxidizer tend to have low ignition temperatures (typically below 500 C), and yet the mixtures are reasonably safe to prepare, use in production, and store. Potassium chlorate formulations also tend to have low ignition temperatures, but they are considerably more sensitive (and hazardous). ... 

Finally, a product of a pyrotechnic reaction may vaporize from the reaction zone and subsequently condense as fine particles in air, creating a smoke. Potassium chloride (boiling point 1407°C) produces smoke in many potassium chlorate and potassium perchlorate compositions, although smoke is usually not a goal sought from these mixtures. 

Dissolve 30 grms. of potassium chlorate in 60 c.c. of warm water contained in a 250 c.c. flask. Add 35 grms of iodine, and then 2 c.c. of cone, nitric acid. A vigorous reaction sets in chlorine gas along with a little vapour of iodine escapes. When the reaction subsides, boil the liquid to drive off the dissolved chlorine, and then add another gram of iodine. Concentrate the soln. by evaporation, and collect the crystals of potassium iodate on a Buchner s funnel. The crude product is purified by dissolving it in about 150 c.c. of hot water, neutralize the soln. with potassium hydroxide, and on cooling crystals of the desired salt are obtained. 

Potassium iodide can also be obtained from the aq. extract of kelp or from the mother liquid remaining after the separation of sodium chloride and potassium sulphate from sea-water by evaporation. In E. Allary and J. Pellieux process,8 the liquid is evaporated to dryness and roasted in a special furnace so as to avoid a loss of iodine. The product is fractionally extracted with cold water, when a soln. is obtained which on evaporation gives a residue with 50 per cent, of alkali iodide. This product is extracted.in a special digester with 50 per cent, alcohol. The solvent dissolves little more than the iodides. The alcohol is distilled off, and on evaporation a residue containing about 34 per cent, of potassium iodide, and 66 per cent, of sodium iodide is obtained. To convert the latter into potassium iodide, the proper quantity of a soln. of potassium carbonate is added and carbon dioxide passed into the liquid whereby sodium bicarbonate is precipitated. The precipitate is separated by a filter press, and the small amount of sodium bicarbonate remaining in the soln. is separated by the addition of a little hydrochloric acid and the sodium chloride and potassium iodide separated by fractional crystallization. In E. Sonstadt s process, the mother liquid is treated with chlorine mixed with potassium chlorate or permanganate so as to convert the iodine into iodate. A soln. of a barium salt is added, and the barium iodate treated with potassium sulphate. Barium sulphate is precipitated, and the soln. of potassium iodate is evaporated to dryness and calcined to convert the iodate to iodide. The latter is purified by crystallization. 

Properties. (Perform the experiment in a fume cupboard]) 1. Put several potassium chlorate crystals into a small porcelain bowl and carefully wet them with 3-4 drops of a 96% sulphuric acid solution. What is observed Perform a similar experiment with concentrated hydrochloric acid. What is observed in this case Write the equations of the reactions. What products form when potassium chlorate reacts with oxalic acid ... 

Cartridges containing only potassium chlorate were transported in safety to the site, where they were dipped for a definite time into kerosene just before use. Miedziankit was also manufactured by soaking potassium chlorate cartridges with kerosene in the explosive factory. Kerosene with an ignition temperature above 30°C was employed, to render the product safe for rail transport. According to T. Urbanski [76] the rate of detonation of Miedziankit is 3000m/sec in an iron pipe at a density of 1.7. 

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