Ammonium chlorate

Ammonium chlorate is an inorganic compound with the formula NH₄ClO₃.

Ammonium chlorate

Ammonium chlorate
Names
IUPAC name Ammonium chlorate
Identifiers
CAS Number	10192-29-7 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	55411 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.030.413
PubChem CID	61491
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID90144346
InChI InChI=1S/ClHO3.H3N/c2-1(3)4;/h(H,2,3,4);1H3 Y Key: KHPLPBHMTCTCHA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/ClHO3.H3N/c2-1(3)4;/h(H,2,3,4);1H3 Key: KHPLPBHMTCTCHA-UHFFFAOYAQ
SMILES O=Cl(=O)O.N
Properties
Chemical formula	NH4ClO3
Appearance	small colorless crystals
Density	2.42 g/cm3
Melting point	380 °C (716 °F; 653 K) (decomposes)
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	−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). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

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.

Production

Ammonium chlorate can be made in a double displacement reaction by mixing stoichiometric solutions of ammonium nitrate and sodium chlorate or ammonium sulfate and barium chlorate:^[2]

NH
₄NO
₃ + NaClO
₃ → NH
₄ClO
₃ + NaNO
₃

or

(NH
₄)
₂SO
₄ + Ba(ClO
₃)
₂ → 2NH
₄ClO
₃ + BaSO
₄

In addition, ammonium chlorate can be produced by reacting chloric acid with either ammonia or ammonium carbonate:

(NH
₄)
₂CO
₃ + 2HClO
₃ → 2NH
₄ClO
₃ + CO
₂ + H
₂O

Uses

Ammonium chlorate is rarely used due to its hazardous nature, however, in the past it was used in matches due to its ability to oxidise other compounds.