Chemical Properties
White, crystalline powder. Soluble in water; slightly
soluble in alcohol.
Uses
In pyrotechnics to produce red fire.
General Description
A moist solid or semi-solid slurry of white crystals. May explode under exposure to heat or fire. Used in pyrotechnics.
Air & Water Reactions
Water soluble.
Reactivity Profile
STRONTIUM CHLORATE is a strong oxidizing agent. Forms a flammable mixture with combustible materials (can be ignited by friction). Such mixtures may be explosive Contact with concentrated sulfuric acid can cause fires or explosions. When mixed with ammonium salts, spontaneous decomposition and ignition may result. Liberates explosive chlorine dioxide gas in the presence of strong acid; heating with a dibasic organic acid in the presence of moisture liberates chlorine dioxide and carbon dioxide [Bretherick 1979 p. 100]. Mixtures with ammonium salts, powdered metals, silicon, sulfur, or sulfides are readily ignited and potentially explosive [Bretherick 1979 p. 806].
Hazard
Dangerous explosion risk in contact with
organic materials; highly sensitive to shock, heat,
and friction; strong oxidizing agent.
Health Hazard
TOXIC; inhalation, ingestion or contact (skin, eyes) with vapors, dusts or substance may cause severe injury, burns or death. Fire may produce irritating and/or toxic gases. Toxic fumes or dust may accumulate in confined areas (basement, tanks, hopper/tank cars, etc.). Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.
Fire Hazard
May explode from friction, heat or contamination. These substances will accelerate burning when involved in a fire. May ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Some will react explosively with hydrocarbons (fuels). Containers may explode when heated. Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard.
Description
Strontium chlorate, Sr(ClO3)2, has a molecular weight
of 254.52 g/mol. It is a white solid with a melting point
of 120°C and a density of 3.152 g/cm3. It is soluble in
water (174 g/100 ml at 20°C). Its CAS number is 7791-10-8.
Sr(ClO3)2 is shock sensitive, and is highly flammable
if allowed to sit in air. These white, water-soluble crystals
decompose at 120°C. It is used in pyrotechnics
and tracer bullets. There are two coexisting crystal
hydrates that undergo interconversion, the dihydrate
and the hexahydrate. These compounds are not as shock
sensitive as the anhydrate.
Physical properties
Strontium chlorate is a strong oxidizing agent. It
forms a flammable mixture with combustible materials
(can be ignited by friction). Such mixtures may be explosive.
Contact with concentrated sulfuric acid can cause
fires or explosions. When mixed with ammonium salts,
spontaneous decomposition and ignition may result.
This compound liberates explosive chlorine dioxide
gas in the presence of strong acid; heating with a dibasic
organic acid in the presence of moisture liberates chlorine
dioxide and carbon dioxide. Mixtures with ammonium
salts, powdered metals, silicon, sulfur, or sulfides
are readily ignited and potentially explosive.
Preparation
Strontium chlorate can be produced by the Liebig
method which consists of passing chlorine gas through
a solid such as Sr(OH)2:
6Sr(OH)2＋ 6Cl2→5SrCl2＋ Sr(CIO3)2＋ H2O.
However, separating the two salts remains problematic
since both are soluble in water. Strontium chloride
solubility is 42.9 g/100 ml of water at 20°C while that
of strontium chlorate is 174.9 g/100 ml of water at 20°C.
