Potassium chlorite explained

Potassium chlorite is a potassium salt of chlorous acid (HClO₂) having a chemical formula KClO₂. It exists as white powder and its annhydrous form easily undergoes decomposition in presence of heat or radiation (especially gamma rays).^[1]

Properties

Potassium chlorite is a colorless hygroscopic crystal that deliquesces in the air. It decomposes upon heating into potassium chloride and oxygen, emitting light.Potassium chlorite forms orthorhombic cmcm crystals and has been reported to decompose within hours at room temperature.^[2] It is an oxidizing agent.

Synthesis

Some of the methods of preparation of potassium chlorite are:

• Thermal decomposition of potassium chlorate

• Reaction of chloric acid and potassium hydroxide

Notes and References

1. Boyd . George E. . Brown . Larry Clyde . 1970 . Thermal and radiolytic decomposition of anhydrous crystalline potassium chlorite . The Journal of Physical Chemistry . en . 74 . 8 . 1691–1694 . 10.1021/j100703a006 . 0022-3654.
2. Smolentsev . A. I. . Naumov . D. Yu . 2005-02-15 . Two alkali metal chlorites, LiClO2 and KClO2 . Acta Crystallographica Section C: Crystal Structure Communications . en . 61 . 2 . i17–i19 . 10.1107/S0108270104032482 . 0108-2701.