Potassium chloride differently is called "potassium chlorate" and represents potassium salt of chlornovaty acid. Potassium chloride - unstable connection and strong oxidizer, often use it in preparation of pyrotechnic mixes.
The scientific name of potassium chloride - potassium chlorate. This substance has formula KClO3. For the first time chlorate of potassium was received by the French chemist Claude Louis Bertholet in 1786. Bertholet decided to pass chlorine in heated solution of alkali. When solution cooled down - on a bottom of a flask potassium chlorate crystals dropped out.
Potassium chlorate
Potassium chloride represents colourless crystals which decay when heating. At first chlorate of potassium decays on perchlorate and chloride of potassium, and at stronger heating perchlorate of potassium decays on chloride of potassium and oxygen.
It is remarkable that addition to potassium chloride of catalysts (oxides of manganese, copper, iron) several times reduces temperature of its decomposition.
Use of potassium chloride
Its use as a part of gunpowder, pyrotechnic mixes and explosives is based on reaction of decomposition of chlorate of potassium. In mix with some substances potassium chloride becomes so sensitive that blows up from small blow. The most ordinary place where it is possible to meet potassium chloride is our kitchen. Chlorate of potassium is a part of match heads. Sometimes chlorate of potassium is used as antiseptic and in chemistry for laboratory receiving oxygen.
Receiving potassium chloride
Now potassium chloride is received commercially from calcium hypochlorite. It is heated while it does not turn into calcium chlorate, and then mixed with potassium chloride. There is an exchange reaction as a result of which mix of potassium chloride and chloride of calcium turns out. One more industrial way of receiving potassium chloride consists in electrolysis of water solutions of chloride of potassium. On electrodes at first mix of potassium hydroxide and chlorine is formed, then hypochlorite of potassium from which, eventually and potassium chloride turns out is formed of them.
Claude Bertholet
The inventor of chlorate of potassium Claude Bertholet was a doctor and the druggist. In off-duty time he was engaged in chemical experiments. Claude achieved great scientific success - in 1794 he was made professor of two higher Parisian schools. Bertholet became the first chemist who managed to establish composition of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, marsh gas and hydrocianic acid. He thought up rattling silver and process of chloric bleaching. Later Bertholet dealt with issues of national defense and served as the adviser at Napoleon. Upon termination of service Claude based a scientific circle which such famous French scientists as Gay-Lussac, Laplace and Humboldt entered.