chlorate: Formation of Chlorates

A chlorate may be formed (together with the corresponding chloride) by heating the hypochlorite; e.g., 3Ca(ClO)₂→Ca(ClO₃)₂+2CaCl₂. This reaction takes place when chlorine gas is passed into a hot aqueous solution of a metal hydroxide; the hypochlorite is formed and decomposes almost immediately. Commercially, a chlorate is derived when a hot aqueous metal chloride solution is decomposed by electrolysis, forming chlorine gas at the anode and metal hydroxide at the cathode (with evolution of hydrogen); the chlorine reacts with the hydroxide to form the hypochlorite, which decomposes to form the chlorate.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Commercial Uses of Perchlorates
• Formation of Perchlorates
• Perchloric Acid and Its Salts
• Commercial Uses of Chlorates
• Formation of Chlorates
• Chloric Acid and Its Salts

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