Ammonium chlorate

Ammonium chlorate
Ammonium chlorate
Names
IUPAC name
Ammonium chlorate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.030.413 Edit this at Wikidata
  • InChI=1S/ClHO3.H3N/c2-1(3)4;/h(H,2,3,4);1H3 checkY
    Key: KHPLPBHMTCTCHA-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/ClHO3.H3N/c2-1(3)4;/h(H,2,3,4);1H3
    Key: KHPLPBHMTCTCHA-UHFFFAOYAQ
  • O=Cl(=O)O.N
Properties
NH4ClO3
Appearance small colorless crystals
Density 2.42 g/cm3
Melting point 380 °C (716 °F; 653 K) (decomposes)
-42.1·10−6 cm3/mol
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
 strong oxidant, decomposes when heated
Related compounds
Other anions
 Ammonium chloride
Ammonium perchlorate
Other cations
 Barium chlorate
Potassium chlorate
Sodium chlorate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Ammonium chlorate is an inorganic compound with the formula NH4ClO3.

It is obtained by neutralizing chloric acid with either ammonia or ammonium carbonate, or by precipitating barium, strontium or calcium chlorates with ammonium carbonate or ammonium sulfate, producing the respective carbonate or sulfate precipitate and an ammonium chlorate solution. Ammonium chlorate crystallizes in small needles, readily soluble in water.

The bitartrate method is a candidate for production and can be used if exotic chlorates are currently inaccessible or need to be synthesized. Warm solutions of potassium chlorate and ammonium bitartrate are needed. The latter can be synthesized by adding aqueous ammonia to an excess of tartaric acid. Then, a double displacement reaction will result in precipitation of ammonium chlorate.

On heating, ammonium chlorate decomposes at about 102 °C, with liberation of nitrogen, chlorine and oxygen. It is soluble in dilute aqueous alcohol, but insoluble in strong alcohol. This compound is a powerful oxidizer and should never be stored with flammable materials, as it can easily form sensitive explosive compositions.

Ammonium chlorate is a very unstable oxidizer and will decompose independently, sometimes violently, at room temperature.[1] This results from the mixture of the reducing ammonium cation and the oxidizing chlorate anion. Even solutions are known to be unstable. Because of the dangerous nature of this salt it should only be kept in solution when needed, and never be allowed to crystallize.

  1. ^ Fairbrother, Fred (1922). "The Spontaneous Decomposition of Ammonium Chlorate". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 44 (11): 2419–2422. doi:10.1021/ja01432a009. ISSN 0002-7863.