What is the Difference Between Potassium Chlorate and Potassium Perchlorate?

Potassium chlorate and potassium perchlorate are both ionic, inorganic compounds with different chemical formulas and properties:

• Potassium Chlorate (KClO3): This compound is highly reactive and acts as an oxidizer in fireworks, releasing oxygen during combustion. It is sensitive to shock or friction.
• Potassium Perchlorate (KClO4): This compound is chemically more stable and safer to handle than potassium chlorate. It is used in industrial applications such as propellants and explosives, as well as in flash compositions, stars, and sparklers.

The key difference between potassium chlorate and potassium perchlorate is their reactivity and sensitivity. Potassium chlorate is highly reactive compared to potassium perchlorate. Potassium perchlorate releases more energy when it decomposes, making it a safer alternative in various applications. Despite having a higher oxidation state, which might suggest greater instability, potassium perchlorate's tetrahedral structure and high symmetry of the central ion give it greater stability than chlorate.

Comparative Table: Potassium Chlorate vs Potassium Perchlorate

Here is a table comparing the differences between potassium chlorate and potassium perchlorate:

Potassium chlorate is a highly reactive compound and is commonly used as a strong oxidizing agent, such as in the manufacture of safety matches. On the other hand, potassium perchlorate is less reactive and is not toxic, but only harmful. The industrial production of potassium chlorate involves the salt metathesis reaction between sodium chlorate and potassium chloride, while the production of potassium perchlorate involves treating an aqueous solution of sodium perchlorate.