Introduction: Make Potassium Chlorate From Bleach
How to Make Potassium Chlorate from Bleach and sodium-free salt.
Warning: This produces small amounts of chlorine gas, this should be done outside or in a fumehood.
Potassium chlorate is a useful oxidizer and small amounts can be easily made using household chemicals. Start by boiling a large quantity of household laundry bleach, at least half a liter, until crystals start to precipitate. Immediately take it off heating and let it cool. As it cools make a saturated solution of potassium chloride. Potassium chloride is sold as a "sodium-free" salt substitute. Now once the bleach is cooled, measure out an equal volume of potassium chloride solution and pour into the boiled bleach solution but do not mix in the crystals. Stir up the mixture and eventually potassium chlorate crystals will precpitate out.
What's happening is the sodium hypochlorite in the bleach is disproportionating to form sodium chloride and sodium chlorate. Adding the potassium chloride exchanges the ions and precipitates out potassium chlorate.
The boiling is required for this reaction to work; you can't simply let the bleach evaporate.
22 Comments
Question 4 years ago
We didnt get any crystal even after boiling the bleach liquid. What should we do?
6 years ago
haha combine a gummy bear with potassium chlorate
6 years ago
haha combine a gummy bear with potassium chlorate
7 years ago
Potassium chlorate crystals for me is very useful since I can test this on friendly bacteria with a plot Ph vs time (in hours). Potassium and sodium chlorate interfere with glycolysis.
7 years ago
You know although it is a bit more dangerous you can make potassium chlorate by using calcium hypochlorite and potassium chloride.
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR LABWARE IS EXTREMELY CLEAN.
First boil a solution of calcium hypochlorite 10%. Warning both Chlorine (Cl2) and HCl gas are produced so do this in a well ventilated area. Allow the boiled solution reach 90 degrees C (constant very important). Then added the potassium chloride you should get potassium chlorate and calcium chloride. Boil for approx 3 hours. Potassium chlorate in not or sparsely soluble in cold water. Soluble in warmer water and this is the key on how to separate them. Wash the KClO3 with cold water for min loss of the product.
This info came from Red Nile and all info about safety should be followed including waste disposal.
Reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BIhHoj5GD4
8 years ago on Introduction
question for you. I have calcium hypochlorite (HTH) pool shock that can be dissolved into water to make a "bleach" solution. Will this product work as the sodium hypochlorite does or is the sodium necessary in the chlorite to work?
8 years ago on Introduction
I'd like to know how much precipitate was made at the end so I can modify to make just under 5 grams of KClO3
11 years ago on Introduction
may i ask a question ? i am amateur with chemistry so i dont have this equipment (special hot plate) , i tried to heat the beaker on my cookers plate but broke, can you please tell me another way to boil the bleach without breaking the beaker ?
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
You should use a screen between the beaker and the flame or hot plate. Even with Pyrex or Kimax glass, an application of intense heat to a small area of the beaker can cause it to expand locally, thereby fracturing the beaker. Heat should be applied slowly and evenly which is usually done with an electric hot plate.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
You would need Pyrex Glass for the beaker to not break, but you should be able to boil the bleach in any Teflon Lined container (http://catalog.gpi.net/Asset/Chemical-Compatibility-Ver-6.pdf) it resist up to 100% sodium Hypocholrate concentrations so you should be good, but I would not recommend eating out of it after...
9 years ago on Introduction
I believes he was saying "Make a Saturated Solution of Potassium Chloride" not to saturate the Potassium Chloride...
10 years ago on Introduction
A slower, yet much more safer and tedious way is to do this using electrolysis. Check out this guide for more: http://denialmedia.ca/?p=18
It's really useful to know if you have a bit of platinum or a ton of graphite!
10 years ago on Introduction
What do you saturate the potassium chloride with? or is it just the salt served up dry?
12 years ago on Introduction
I'm going to try this, except, I'll make CESIUM CHLORATE. I got my hands on some Cesium Chloride, so, I can make CsClO3, and blow up old computers and stuff.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
where did you get cesium chloride?!?!?!?!
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
don't see it and didn't hear it mentioned
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
comment above
11 years ago on Introduction
potassium chlorate makes a wonderful oxidizer. potassium nitrate is good as well. but potassium perchlorate isn't. even though it holds more oxygen ions (KClO4) it isn't a good oxidizer. can anyone explain?
12 years ago on Introduction
These chlorates are hazardous, a spill has the potential to cause an unplanned fire. I'd worry more about that than chlorine myself.
L
12 years ago on Introduction
I look forward the electrolysis video!