Potassium perchlorate

Potassium perchlorate
Names
Other names
Potassium chlorate(VII); Perchloric acid, potassium salt; peroidin
Identifiers
7778-74-7 YesY
ChEMBL ChEMBL1200696 N
ChemSpider 22913 YesY
EC Number 231-912-9
Jmol 3D model Interactive image
PubChem 516900
RTECS number SC9700000
UNII 42255P5X4D YesY
UN number 1489
Properties
ClKO4
Molar mass 138.54 g·mol−1
Appearance colourless/ white crystalline powder
Density 2.5239 g/cm3
Melting point 610 °C (1,130 °F; 883 K)
decomposes from 400 °C[1][2]
0.76 g/100 mL (0 °C)
1.5 g/100 mL (25 °C)[3]
4.76 g/100 mL (40 °C)
21.08 g/100 mL (100 °C)[4]
1.05·10−2[5]
Solubility negligible in alcohol
insoluble in ether
Solubility in ethanol 47 mg/kg (0 °C)
120 mg/kg (25 °C)[4]
Solubility in acetone 1.6 g/kg[4]
Solubility in ethyl acetate 15 mg/kg[4]
1.4724
Structure
Rhombohedral
Thermochemistry
111.35 J/mol·K[6]
150.86 J/mol·K[6]
-433 kJ/mol[7]
-300.4 kJ/mol[4]
Hazards
Safety data sheet MSDS
GHS pictograms [2]
GHS signal word Danger
H271, H302[2]
P220[2]
O Xn
R-phrases R9, R22
S-phrases (S2), S13, S22, S27
NFPA 704
Related compounds
Other anions
Potassium chloride
Potassium chlorate
Potassium periodate
Other cations
Ammonium perchlorate
Sodium perchlorate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Potassium perchlorate is the inorganic salt with the chemical formula KClO4. Like other perchlorates, this salt is a strong oxidizer although it usually reacts very slowly with organic substances. This usually obtained as a colorless, crystalline solid is a common oxidizer 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 It has been used as a solid rocket propellant, although in that application it has mostly been replaced by the higher performance ammonium perchlorate. KClO4 has the lowest solubility of the alkali metal perchlorates (1.5 g in 100 mL of water at 25 °C).[3]

Production

Potassium perchlorate in crystal form

KClO4 is prepared industrially by treating an aqueous solution of sodium perchlorate with KCl. This single precipitation reaction exploits the low solubility of KClO4, which is about 100 times less than the solubility of NaClO4 (209.6 g/100 mL at 25 °C).[8] It can also be produced by the reaction of perchloric acid with potassium hydroxide; however, this is not used widely due to the dangers of perchloric acid.

Oxidizing properties

KClO4 is an oxidizer in the sense that it exothermically transfers oxygen to combustible materials, greatly increasing their rate of combustion relative to that in air. Thus, with glucose it gives carbon dioxide:

3 KClO4 + C6H12O6 → 6 H2O + 6 CO2 + 3 KCl

The conversion of solid glucose into hot gaseous CO2 is the basis of the explosive force of this and other such mixtures. Even with cane sugar, KClO4 yields a low explosive, provided the necessary confinement. Otherwise such mixtures simply deflagrate with an intense purple flame characteristic of potassium. Flash compositions used in firecrackers usually consist of a mixture of aluminium powder and potassium perchlorate. This mixture, sometimes called flash powder, is also used in ground and air fireworks.

As an oxidizer, potassium perchlorate can be used safely in the presence of sulfur, whereas potassium chlorate cannot. The greater reactivity of chlorate is typical – perchlorates are kinetically poorer oxidants. Chlorate produces chloric acid, which is highly unstable and can lead to premature ignition of the composition. Correspondingly, perchloric acid is quite stable.[9]

In medicine

Potassium perchlorate can be used as an antithyroid agent used to treat hyperthyroidism, usually in combination with one other medication. This application exploits the similar ionic radii and hydrophilicity of perchlorate and iodide.

Other Uses

Since 2005, a cartridge with potassium perchlorate mixed with anthracene and sulfur is used for generating the black smoke signalling the failure of reaching a two-thirds majority needed for the election of a new pope by a papal conclave.

References

  1. Benenson, Walter; Stöcker, Horst. Handbook of Physics. Springer. p. 780. ISBN 0387952691.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Sigma-Aldrich Co., Potassium perchlorate. Retrieved on 2014-05-27.
  3. 1 2 "Potassium Perchlorate MSDS". J.T. Baker. 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 http://chemister.ru/Database/properties-en.php?dbid=1&id=519
  5. http://www.solubilityofthings.com/water/ions_solubility/ksp_chart.php
  6. 1 2 Potassium perchlorate in Linstrom, P.J.; Mallard, W.G. (eds.) NIST Chemistry WebBook, NIST Standard Reference Database Number 69. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg MD. http://webbook.nist.gov (retrieved 2014-05-27)
  7. Zumdahl, Steven S. (2009). Chemical Principles 6th Ed. Houghton Mifflin Company. p. A22. ISBN 0-618-94690-X.
  8. Helmut Vogt, Jan Balej, John E. Bennett, Peter Wintzer, Saeed Akbar Sheikh, Patrizio Gallone "Chlorine Oxides and Chlorine Oxygen Acids" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2002, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a06_483
  9. Greenwood, N. N.; Earnshaw, A. (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd Edn.), Oxford:Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-3365-4.

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