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Potassium perchlorate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Potassium Perchlorate | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Perchlorated potassium |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | KClO4 |
| Molar mass | 138.55 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colourless Crystalline Crystals or White Powder |
| Density | 2.52 g/cm3, solid |
| Melting point |
610 °C |
| Boiling point |
400°C |
| Solubility in water | 1.5g in 100g H2O |
| Hazards | |
| MSDS | MSDS |
| EU classification | Oxidant (O) Harmful (Xn) |
| NFPA 704 |
0
2
2
OX
|
| Related Compounds | |
| Other anions | potassium chloride potassium chlorate potassium periodate |
| Other cations | ammonium perchlorate sodium perchlorate |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
|
Potassium perchlorate, chemical formula KClO4, is a strong oxidizer. It is a colorless, crystalline substance that melts at about 610 °C. It is one of the most common oxidizers used in fireworks, ammunition percussion caps, explosive primers, and is used variously in propellants, flash compositions, stars, and sparklers. It has been used as a solid rocket propellant, though in that application it has mostly been replaced by the higher performance ammonium perchlorate. KClO4 has the lowest solubility of all perchlorates (2.08 g KClO4 in 100 g H2O at 25 deg C).
It has a molar mass of 138.55 g/mol.
Contents |
As an oxidizer, KClO4 reacts with a wide variety of fuels. A common example is glucose, C6H12O6.
3 KClO4 + C6H12O6 → 6 H2O + 6 CO2 + 3 KCl
When mixed with cane sugar, it can be used as a low explosive, if the necessary confinement is provided. Otherwise the mixture will simply deflagrate with an intense purple flame indicative of potassium salts. Flash compositions used in firecrackers usually consist of fine aluminium powder mixed with potassium perchlorate.
Potassium perchlorate can be used safely in the presence of sulfur, however potassium chlorate can't. The common explanation for this is that the sulfur will, given time, produce minute quantities of sulfurous acid and sulfuric acid. These will, in turn, react with potassium chlorate to produce chloric acid, which is highly unstable and can lead to premature ignition of the composition. The corresponding acid of potassium perchlorate, perchloric acid, is stable enough as to prevent spontaneous ignition.
Potassium perchlorate is produced by double decomposition reaction with sodium perchlorate and potassium chloride. Sodium perchlorate is manufactured by anodic oxidation of sodium chloride. [1]
Potassium perchlorate can be used as a potent antithyroid agent used to treat hyperthyroidism, usually in combination with one other medication.
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| Thyroid hormones | Levothyroxine sodium - Liothyronine sodium - Tiratricol - Thyroid gland preparations |
| Antithyroid preparations | Thiouracils (Methylthiouracil, Propylthiouracil, Benzylthiouracil) - Sulphur-containing imidazole derivatives (Carbimazole, Thiamazole) - Perchlorates (Potassium perchlorate) - Other (Diiodotyrosine, Dibromotyrosine) |
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