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POTASSIUM CHLORATE
[3811–04–9]Formula: KClO
3
; MW 122.50
Uses
Potassium chlorate is an oxidizing agent in matches, fireworks and explo-sives. The head of safety matches is coated with potassium chlorate which isstruck on a surface consisting of red phosphorus, antimony(III) sulfide and anadhesive to light the fire. It also is used in laboratory preparation of oxygen.Its dilute aqueous solution is an antiseptic.
Physical Properties
Colorless crystals or white granular powder; monoclinic structure; density2.32 g/cm
3
; melts at 356°C; decomposes at 400°C; moderately soluble in coldwater, 7.19 g/100mL at 20°C, solubility increasing with temperature, 57g/100mL at 100°C; insoluble in acetone and liquid ammonia.
Thermochemical Properties
∆Η 
ƒ 
°
 –95.06 kcal/mol
∆
G
ƒ 
°
 –70.82 kcal/molS
°
34.2 cal/deg molC
ρ
24.0 cal/deg mol
Preparation
Potassium chlorate may be prepared by mixing concentrated solutions of sodium chlorate and potassium chloride. Potassium chlorate crystallizeswhen the solubility product [K 
+
] [ClO
32– 
] is exceeded.Potassium chlorate also can be prepared by passing chlorine gas into a hotsolution of caustic potash:3Cl
2
(g) + 6KOH (aq)
→
KClO
3
(aq) + 5KCl (aq) + 3H
2
O(l)
Reactions
Potassium chlorate decomposes on heating below its melting point and inthe presence of a catalyst, forming potassium chloride and oxygen. The reac-tion is catalyzed by manganese dioxide and is used in laboratory preparationof oxygen:On heating (in the absence of a catalyst) potassium chlorate converts topotassium perchlorate:4KClO
3
→
3KClO
4
+ KClPotassium chlorate is a strong oxidizing agent. In aqueous solution, it
2KClO
3
 
      →  
+
2
MnOheat
2KCl + 3O
2
↑
 
POTASSIUM CHLORATE 745
 
exhibits redox reactions of ionic ClO
3
 ¯ . Many are similar to potassium per-manganate (see Potassium Permanganate).
Analysis
Elemental composition: K 31.91%, Cl 28.93%, O 39.17%. The salt is dis-solved in water and the solution analyzed for potassium by AA, ICP, or othertechniques. The ClO
3
 ¯ ion in solution may be identified by ion chromatogra-phy.
Toxicity
The salt is moderately toxic by ingestion and other routes causing irritationof the GI tract and kidney. Also, it can cause breakdown of red blood cells, pro-ducing methemoglobinemia.
POTASSIUM CHLORIDE
[7447–40–7]Formula: KCl; MW 74.55
Occurrence and Uses
Several ores containing potassium chloride are found commonly in nature.The principle ores are sylvite, KCl; carnallite, KCl•MgCl
2
•6H
2
O; kainite,KCl•MgSO
4
•3H
2
O and sylvinite, a naturally occuring mixture of sylvite andhalite (common salt). Potassium chloride also is found in sea water at an aver-age concentration of 0.076% (w/v).Potassium chloride is the most important salt of potassium from the per-spective of its abundant occurrence and applications. This salt, along withpotassium sulfate, is used heavily in fertilizers as the primary source of potas-sium, an essential element for crops. Over 90% salt manufactured is con-sumed as fertilizer. Also, potassium chloride is a raw material for producingpotassium metal and several important potassium salts including potassiumnitrate, potassium hydroxide, and potassium sulfate. Other applications arein electrode cells; photography; buffer solutions and measurement of salinityin water.
Physical Properties
Colorless crystals or white crystalline solid; cubic structure; salty taste;density 1.984g/cm
3
; melts at 770°C; sublimes at 1,500°C; soluble in water34.4 g/100mL at 20°C, 56.7g/100mL at 100°C; soluble in ether, glycerol andalkalies; slightly soluble in alcohol.
Thermochemical Properties
∆Η 
ƒ 
°
 –104.4 kcal/mol
∆
G
ƒ 
°
 –97.8 kcal/molS
°
19.7 cal/deg molC
ρ
12.3 cal/deg mol
746POTASSIUM CHLORIDE
 
Production
Potassium chloride is produced by several processes. The salt is recoveredfrom natural brine by solar evaporation in shallow ponds. Various methodsare employed in mining ores from their natural deposits. Usually it is recov-ered from sylvinite or a naturally occuring complex mixture of langbeinite andkainite.Refining potassium chloride is mostly by crystallization and froth flotationprocesses. Crystallization refining is based on great difference in solubility of potassium, sodium and magnesium chlorides. While potassium chloride at theboiling point of water is much more soluble than at ordinary temperatures,magnesium chloride, on the other hand, is highly soluble even at ordinarytemperatures. In contrast, the solubility of sodium chloride varies slightlywith temperature.Fractional crystallization is carried out at temperatures from 30 to 100°Cunder various modifications of the solution at different stages.Refining by flotation is more common, accounting for about 80% of potassi-um chloride produced in the USA. The process involves several steps: (1) orecrushing (2) removal of water-insoluble clays by scrubbing the ore with brinesaturated with NaCl–KCl in agitated tanks, (3) hydraulic desliming, (4)reagent conditioning of ore flowing from the hydraulic desliming operations,using various depressants, such as, starch and polyacrylamides, (5) separa-tion of amine-coated potassium chloride grains from sodium chloride by flota-tion caused by froths from tallow amines, (6) separation of product crystalsfrom process brine by centrifugation, (7) product drying at high temperatures(about 175°C or above), and finally (8) sizing the product, separating differentsized particles such as coarse, standard, and suspension-grade materials.
Analysis
Elemental composition: K 52.44%, Cl 47.56%. An aqueous solution of thesalt can be analyzed conveniently for potassium by various wet methods orinstrumental techniques (see Potassium). Chloride ion can be determined byion chromatography or by titration with a standard solution of silver nitrateusing potassium chromate indicator.
Toxicity
Ingestion of large doses can cause irritation of the gastrointestinaltract and nausea. Potassium chloride can stop the heart beat and is a compo-nent of lethal injections.
POTASSIUM CHROMATE
[7789–00–6]Formula: K 
2
CrO
4
; MW 194.20Synonyms: neutral potassium chromate; potassium chromate(VI); tarapacaite
POTASSIUM CHROMATE 747
of 00

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