$2 \text{KClO}_3(s) \rightarrow 2 \text{KCl}(s) + 3 \text{O}_2(g)$

Question

03-11-2026
Chemistry

Answered

$2 \text{KClO}_3(s) \rightarrow 2 \text{KCl}(s) + 3 \text{O}_2(g)$

Verified Answer :

Related Questions

The imagery of cold of bones and of darkness in the story suggest a feeling of impending

The vertex of this parabola is at 3 6 Which of the following could be its equation A y 3x 32 6 B y 3x 32 6 C y 3x 32 6 D y 3x 32 6

Which type of figurative language is used in the following line from John F Kennedys inaugural address to the nation This hemisphere intends to remain the maste

what is the integer of 12

What is the main function of the left side of the human heart

What is 125 of 48 I need this in like a month btw but you can still answer afterwards

1 How does inertia affect a person who is not wearing a seatbelt during a collision

If channels in the outer membrane of a neuron were blocked what would be the consequence a membrane fluidity would be impaired and the neuron would undergo apop

Biomes with the shortest vegetation are usually located in areas of what

Where was Daisy when she was informed about Gatsbys death

GinnyAnswer GinnyAnswer · Answer 1 · 2026-11-03T12:00:22-05:00

The chemical equation represents the thermal decomposition of potassium chlorate into potassium chloride and oxygen gas.
The equation is balanced with a stoichiometric ratio of 2:2:3, ensuring the conservation of mass.
The states of matter (s) and (g) denote that the reactant and one product are solid, while oxygen is released as a gas.
Stoichiometry allows for calculating the precise amount of oxygen gas generated based on the amount of potassium chlorate decomposed.

Explanation

Understanding the Chemical Equation

The provided chemical equation is $2 \text{KClO}_3(s) \rightarrow 2 \text{KCl}(s) + 3 \text{O}_2(g)$. This equation represents the thermal decomposition of potassium chlorate ($\text{KClO}_3$). In this chemical process, a single solid compound, when heated, breaks down into simpler substances: solid potassium chloride ($\text{KCl}$) and diatomic oxygen gas ($\text{O}_2$). The labels (s) and (g) indicate the states of matter for each substance, with (s) representing a solid and (g) representing a gas.

Verifying Conservation of Mass

To ensure the law of conservation of mass is satisfied, we count the atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.

Reactant side ($2 \text{KClO}_3$):
Potassium (K): $2 \times 1 = 2$
Chlorine (Cl): $2 \times 1 = 2$
Oxygen (O): $2 \times 3 = 6$
Product side ($2 \text{KCl} + 3 \text{O}_2$):
Potassium (K): $2 \times 1 = 2$
Chlorine (Cl): $2 \times 1 = 2$
Oxygen (O): $3 \times 2 = 6$

Since the number of atoms for each element is equal on both sides, the chemical equation is correctly balanced.

Stoichiometric Ratios and Process Significance

The stoichiometric coefficients in the balanced equation $2:2:3$ describe the relative amounts of substances participating in the reaction. This means that 2 moles of solid potassium chlorate react to produce exactly 2 moles of solid potassium chloride and 3 moles of oxygen gas. These ratios are essential for predicting the amount of oxygen that can be generated from a specific mass of potassium chlorate in practical applications.

Examples

In real-life scenarios, the thermal decomposition of potassium chlorate is a classic laboratory method for generating pure oxygen gas. For instance, in controlled settings or research environments where specific concentrations of oxygen are required for experiments, scientists use this reaction to release trapped oxygen from a stable, solid source. The gas produced can then be captured and measured, demonstrating the practical application of stoichiometry in material handling and chemical synthesis.