Chlorate Formula

Chlorate or the chlorate ion has a molecular formula ClO3. Chlorates are the salts of chloric acid. Chlorate when accompanied by a Roman numeral in parentheses, e.g. chlorate(VII), refers to a particular oxyanion of chlorine. Metal chlorates can be prepared by adding chlorine to metal hydroxides such as the KOH. In this short piece of article, let us discuss the chlorate formula, its properties and chemical structure along with the uses of chlorate.

Chlorate Structural Formula

Chlorate Structural Formula

Chlorate Ion Lewis Structure

Just one Lewis structure cannot satisfactorily represent the chlorate ion since all the Cl–O bonds are of the same length and the chlorine atom is hypervalent. Rather, it is often considered as a hybrid of multiple resonance structures as follows:
Chlorate Ion Lewis Structure

Examples of Chlorates

Examples of chlorates include:

  • Sodium Chlorate (NaClO3)
  • Potassium Chlorate (KClO3)
  • Magnesium Chlorate (Mg(ClO3)2)

If a Roman numeral in brackets follows the word “chlorate”, this indicates the oxyanion contains chlorine in the indicated oxidation state, namely:

As discussed, the Roman numeral that follows the word chlorate indicates the oxyanion that contains chlorine in the indicated oxidation state, namely

Common Name Stock name Oxidation state Formula
Hypochlorite Chlorate(I) +1 ClO
Chlorite Chlorate(III) +3 ClO2
Perchlorate Chlorate(VII) +7 ClO4

To learn more about such chemistry topics register to BYJU’S now!

Comments

Leave a Comment

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published.

*

*