Potassium Chlorate

POTASSIUM CHLORATE (Berthollet), potassium chlorate, Kalium chloricum, KClO₃, white, shiny crystals with a salty taste, dissolving in 17 parts of cold water and 2 parts of hot water; melting point 334°; with stronger heating, potassium chlorate releases O; when dry potassium chlorate is triturated with sulfur, carbon, or organic substances, ignition and explosion occur. Aqueous solutions of potassium chlorate at ordinary temperatures almost do not oxidize organic substances and do not possess strong disinfectant properties: solutions of 1:250 retard the growth of anthrax bacilli, but even saturated solutions have no effect on spores. Potassium chlorate is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and intestines and causes both local, salt-like action (especially with strong concentrations) (nausea, vomiting with severe abdominal pain) and severe forms of general poisoning, often with a fatal outcome: Hb of the blood is converted into methemoglobin, dissolves and passes into the plasma, red blood cells lose the ability to absorb O, the O content in the form of oxyhemoglobin in the blood sometimes reaches 1% (Kobert, Autenrieth), and death by suffocation can occur within a few hours. In cases of less intense poisoning, death occurs after several days: red blood cells turn into a jelly-like mass, which clogs the capillaries of the spleen, liver, and, mainly, kidneys, causing disturbance of urination; death can also occur from thrombosis of vessels in other organs, from uremia, or from paralysis of the heart. Urine has a strongly alkaline reaction, is very dark, almost black, opaque, contains protein, often also Hb and methemoglobin, and upon standing deposits a black-brown sediment. In the body of a person who died from potassium chlorate poisoning, a brown tint is found in the postmortem stains; during autopsy, a gray-brown or chocolate color of the blood and the same tint of all organs, especially the liver and spleen, is noted. Spectroscopically, absorption bands of methemoglobin are revealed in the blood. Under the microscope, blood vessels, especially the capillaries of all organs, are found to be clogged with a mass of deformed red blood cells and their fragments; in the kidneys—deposition of methemoglobin in the straight tubules (so-called methemoglobin infarct). The toxic dose is 8-10 g, while the lethal dose is 10-30 g. Therapeutic measures in case of poisoning: inhale O, intravenously inject alkaline physiological solution, orally administer large amounts of diuretic solutions, and after sufficient dilution of the blood, administer pilocarpine solution under the skin to excrete the poison with saliva and sweat; in case of collapse—camphor. In cases of potassium chlorate poisoning, the following are contraindicated: acidic drinks, alcohol and its preparations. Medical use: for gargles (2-5% aqueous solution) in stomatitis, angina, to prevent the appearance of mercury stomatitis during mercury treatment. Internal use, due to high toxicity, is irrational. Simultaneous internal use of potassium iodide and prescribing potassium chlorate in powders together with sulfur, carbon, organic (tannin, sugar, starch, etc.) substances is contraindicated (during preparation—ignition, explosion!).

L. Medvedeva.

Detection of potassium chlorate in forensic cases and in professional poisonings. Often late death in poisonings (reduction of KClO₃ to KCl in the body) makes it impossible to detect potassium chlorate in parts of the corpse. The object under investigation is crushed and extracted with distilled water (see Poisons); to a portion of the extract, acidified with dilute sulfuric acid, slightly colored with indigo carmine, sodium sulfite (NaHSO₃) is added—the blue color disappears. In another portion of the extract, after acidification with nitric acid, chlorides (Cl ions) are precipitated with an excess of silver nitrate, the precipitate is filtered out, and sodium sulfite is added to the filtrate—a precipitate of silver chloride is obtained. When examining urine from poisoned individuals, it is concentrated and the above reactions are performed. To detect potassium chlorate in dust in the air, certain volumes of air are drawn through absorption flasks with water using an aspirator (see Industrial Poisons). The liquid is heated and the above reactions are performed.