Question

Which compound is used as a catalyst in the process of decomposition of potassium chlorate to prepare oxygen?

Answer 1

Potassium chlorate decomposes upon heating to yield potassium chloride and oxygen gas. Manganese dioxide is mixed with potassium chlorate and acts as the catalyst for this reaction. The reaction occurs as follows:

$2{\text{KClO}}_3\underset{\text{Heating at 400 K}}{\overset{\text{Manganese Dioxide}}{\to }}\text{2KCl}+{\text{3O}}_2$