What is Potassium Bromate?
Potassium Bromate is a widely used form of bromine with the chemical formula KBrO3. It is a powerful oxidising agent which is reduced smoothly to bromide. It is the potassium salt of bromide and is readily available in the high state of purity. In substitution reaction it acts as an effective brominating agent.
Alternate names – Potassium bromate(V) Bromic acid, potassium salt
| KBrO3 | Potassium Bromate |
| Density | 3.27 g/cm³ |
| Molecular Weight/ Molar Mass | 167 g/mol |
| Boiling Point | 370 °C |
| Melting point | 350 °C |
| Chemical Formula | KBrO3 |
Potassium Bromate Structure – KBrO3
Physical Properties of Potassium Bromate – KBrO3
| Odour | Odourless |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Magnetic susceptibility | −52.6·10−6 cm3/mol |
| Conjugate acid‎ | Bromic acid |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in alcohol insoluble in acetone, ethanol |
Chemical Properties of Potassium Bromate – KBrO3
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- Potassium bromate reacts with sodium bromate in the presence of dilute acid solution forming bromine. The corresponding chemical equation is given below.
BrO3– + 5Br– + 6H+ → 3Br2 + 3H2O
Uses of Potassium Bromate – KBrO3
- Used as a source of bromine. Standard potassium bromate can be used directly to prepare a standard solution that is stable indefinitely.
- Used as an antiseptic and astringent in toothpaste, mouthwashes and gargles as 3 to 5 percent solution.
- Potassium bromate is used primarily as a conditioner for flour and dough; some of its non-food uses include use as an oxidizing agent for analytic chemistry and as a brominating agent.
Health Hazard
Potassium bromate is moderately toxic compound. Ingestion causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory stimulation, decrease in body temperature, methemoglobinemia and renal injury. In toothpaste it has been reported to have caused inflammation and bleeding of the gums.