Do chlorates decompose when heated?

Question

Do chlorates decompose when heated?

1 Answer

Impact of this question

16125 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2015-09-17T11:00:57

Yes.

Explanation:

Chlorates are ionic compounds that contain the chlorate anion, ${ClO}_{3}^{-}$ $"ClO"_3^(-)$ , and the cation of a metal.

When heated, these compounds undergo decomposition to form oxygen gas, $O_{2}$ $"O"_2$ , and a metal chloride.

The classic example is the decomposition of potassium chlorate, ${KClO}_{3}$ $"KClO"_3$ , to oxygen gas and potassium chloride, $K C l$ $KCl"$ .

${KClO}_{3(s]} \to {KCl}_{(s]} + O_{2(g]} ↑ ⏐$ $"KClO"_text(3(s]) -> "KCl"_text((s]) + "O"_text(2(g]) uarr$

If you want a general form balanced equation for the decomposition of a metal chlorate, you can use $M$ $"M"$ to denote the metal cation

${MClO}_{3(s]} \to {MCl}_{(s]} + O_{2(g]} ↑ ⏐$ $"MClO"_text(3(s]) -> "MCl"_text((s]) + "O"_text(2(g]) uarr$

Remember to balance this general equation according to the charge of the metal cation. For example, calcium chlorate, $Ca {({ClO}_{3})}_{2}$ $"Ca"("ClO"_3)_2$ , will decompose to give

$Ca {({ClO}_{3})}_{2(s]} \to CaCl_{2(s]} + 3 O_{2(g]} ↑ ⏐ ⏐$ $"Ca"("ClO"_3)_text(2(s]) -> "CaCl"""_text(2(s]) + 3"O"_text(2(g]) uarr$

Here's a video showing the decomposition of potassium chlorate

Science

Math

Humanities

... and beyond

Do chlorates decompose when heated?

1 Answer

Explanation:

Related questions

Impact of this question