CUPRIC CHLORATE

General Description

A blue to green crystalline solid. Contact may cause irritation to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. May be toxic by ingestion. CUPRIC CHLORATE is used to make other chemicals.

Air & Water Reactions

Deliquescent. Water soluble

Reactivity Profile

CUPRIC CHLORATE is an oxidizing agent, particularly in the presence of strong acid. Avoid contact with organic material [Merck]. Heating with a dibasic organic acid liberates chlorine dioxide and carbon dioxide; mixtures with ammonium salts, powdered metals, silicon, sulfur, or sulfides are readily ignited and potentially explosive [Bretherick, 1979 p. 806].

Health Hazard

Toxic by ingestion. Inhalation of dust is toxic. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Contact with substance may cause severe burns to skin and eyes. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.

Fire Hazard

These substances will accelerate burning when involved in a fire. May explode from heat or contamination. Some may burn rapidly. Some will react explosively with hydrocarbons (fuels). May ignite combustibles (wood, paper, oil, clothing, etc.). Containers may explode when heated. Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard.

Safety Profile

A corrosive. A skin and eye irritant. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic vapors of Cu and Cl-.