21 Potassium Perchlorate Uses : Facts You Should Know!

Potassium perchlorate (KClO₄) is an inorganic salt of perchloric acid ( HClO₄) which appears as a white crystalline solid. Let us explore some of the uses of potassium perchlorate.

Potassium perchlorate (KClO₄) is generally used in different industries like–

• Space exploration
• Agricultural industry
• Electrochemical industry
• Research field industry
• Commercial industry.

Let us focus on the wide variety of uses of potassium perchlorate (KClO₄) through this article.

Space exploration

• KClO₄ is mostly used as an oxidizer in solid rocket propellents.
• KClO₄ is used in some industrial processes, such as in processing rare earth element ores.
• KClO₄ is applied in military operations, defense contracting or manufacturing facilities.
• The largest global use of KClO4 is as a chemical oxygen generator for the generation of oxygen for respiratory support, e.g. in aircraft and submarines.
• Flares of KClO₄ are used in some aircraft cloud seeding operations.

Agricultural industry

• KClO₄ is present in products used to enhance agricultural outputs.
• One the most significant use in this industry is that KClO₄ is mixed in pesticides as well.
• KClO₄ assists in the early arrival of the blossoming stage in longan trees. Consequently, it produces fruit during the warmer months.

Electrochemical industry

• The most significant use of KClO₄ in this industry is applied in electrolytic solutions for the purpose of electropolishing, electro-machining and electro-thinning of metal parts, films, and alloys.
• KClO₄ carries out oxidation of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and release small amounts of gaseous chlorine.
• KClO₄ works as a dopant in semiconductor and imparts antistatic and conductive properties.
• KClO₄ is used as an aqueous electrolyte in electrochromic devices and employed for anodic dissolution of difficultly oxidizable metals such as lead and palladium.

Research industry

• KClO₄ is used in the research field due to lessened physiological impacts of the salt over other possible cations.
• KClO₄ is a competitive inhibitor of iodine uptake by inhibiting the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) on the thyroid follicular membrane. This results in a potential decrease in thyroid hormone synthesis including thyroxine (T₄) and tri-iodothyronine (T₃).
• KClO₄ decreases the accumulation of the radioactive imaging substance pertechnetate in the choroid plexus and in the salivary and thyroid glands through competitive displacing.

Commercial industry

• There are few everyday products that use KClO₄ such as airbag initiators for vehicles.
• KClO₄ is used as the oxidizer component in pyrotechnics.
• KClO₄ is one of the primary components found in emergency and signal flares.
• KClO₄ is used to make chlorate candles or oxygen candles
• In combination with silver fulminate, it makes trick noisemakers such as snappers, pop-its, and bang-snaps.
• In older times, it was used in limelight( a type of stage lighting) in theatres and music halls.

Conclusion

Potassium perchlorate ( KClO₄) is a colorless to white crystalline solid having complex thermal decomposition. It is a strong oxidizing agent used in safety matches, flares, rocket propellent, in photography and as an agent in automobile safety air bags.