Chlorates can be used for the production of pyrotechnics.
Chlorate is a term that comes from chlorine (the chemical element with symbol Cl and atomic number 17 ). The salt of chloric acid is called chlorate.
Chlorine is a toxic gas that is mainly used to disinfect water . The oxyacid of chlorine is called chloric acid : this means that chloric acid is an acid whose composition includes oxygen, as well as hydrogen and another element.
Characteristics of a chlorate
Returning to the idea of chlorate, it is a salt , which means that it is obtained by replacing the hydrogen atoms that are present in the acid (in this specific case, in chloric acid) with basic radicals .
Chlorates are not found in nature. These salts show high instability and have a great oxidation capacity. On the other hand, it should be noted that a chlorate is an inorganic salt .
food contaminant
Chlorate is a waste that, in the process of chlorination of water for purification , arises as a byproduct. It is also used as a pesticide and in the disinfection of various food products.
Traces of chlorate left in food are considered contaminants . That is why producers must carry out analyzes to confirm whether the level of chlorates is below the maximum allowed by law .
The European Union ( EU ), for example, regulates the authorized amount of chlorate depending on the product . Measurements are made in milligrams per kilogram ( mg/kg ).
It is interesting to note that the presence of chlorates in foods is always a consequence of human actions. When used as pesticides , they can reach the plants that are grown through the soil or water.
There are herbicides that are developed with chlorates.
Other uses of chlorate
Chlorates can be used for the development of different processes in industry . They are used in the manufacture of pyrotechnics and explosives and as rocket fuel , to name a few possibilities.
Matches may also include chlorate . In this case, a limited amount of potassium chlorate is usually placed in the head of the utensil: with friction, the red phosphorus in the head of the match is partially converted into white phosphorus due to heat, and this white phosphorus leads to carries out a reaction with the chlorate, releasing the energy that allows the implement to be turned on.
Different types
As we already indicated, there is no single chlorate, but multiple types can be recognized. The aforementioned potassium chlorate is formed by the union of the potassium cation and the chlorate anion.
Sodium chlorate , meanwhile, is used as a herbicide and as a bleach, while ammonium chlorate is used to make explosives. If we focus on barium chlorate , it can be detected in pyrotechnic products.
Each of these chlorates causes different negative health reactions. Ingesting sodium chlorate can lead to multiple organ failure due to its oxidizing power; If barium chlorate is ingested, the most common consequences are nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.