Perchloric acid
Perchloric acid
PERCHLORIC ACID
Perchloric Acid is a mineral acid usually found as an aqueous solution, this colorless compound is a stronger acid. It is a powerful oxidizer when hot. The aqueous solutions at room temperature are safe, only showing strong acid features and no oxidizing properties. Perchloric acid is beneficial for preparing perchlorate salts, especially ammonium perchlorate, which is a conjugate base. It has its other names Dioxonium perchlorate and Hydronium perchlorate.
It appears as a colorless and odorless liquid. Like methane its molecular geometry is tetrahedral. Perchloric acid is highly corrosive and readily forms explosive mixtures. Its basicity is 1. It is a volatile compound. it is remarkably hazardous acid and unstable in concentrated form. It is a strong acid in nature, even stronger than sulphuric acid/nitric acid. When heated, it undergoes decomposition and emits toxic fumes of hydrogen chloride gas. It is an extremely hygroscopic ionic compound.
USES AND APPLICATIONS FOR Perchloric Acid
It is used in numerous industrial applications like:-
- It is used in the production of electrical appliances, and chemical products.
- It is used in the production of sodium perchlorate which is a basic ingredient in explosives.
- It is utilized in metal refinement, bleaching, optical equipment, fertilizer, and rust removal.
- Perchloric acid is one of the most proven materials for critical electronics applications as well as for ore extraction and has unique properties in analytical chemistry.
- It is a useful component in the etching of chrome.
- It is also used for electropolishing or etching aluminum, and other metals.
- It is helpful for elution in ion-exchange chromatography.
- It works as a strong electrolyte and powerful oxidizer in analytical chemistry.
- It is used for plating some metals.
- It catalyzes the manufacturing of esters.
- It is a titration reagent.
It is highly reactive with metals and a corrosive ionic compound. It is prepared by the reaction of potassium perchlorate and sulphuric acid or by treating sodium perchlorate with hydrochloric acid at room temperature.