potassium chlorate

noun

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Definition of potassium chlorate

: a crystalline salt KClO₃ that is used as an oxidizing agent in matches, fireworks, and explosives

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Recent Examples of potassium chlorate from the Web

That white tip of theirs is the potassium chlorate, an easy-to-trigger oxidizing agent, that pumps oxygen into the reaction of the red portion, phosphorous, and allows it to burn the sulfur as fuel.

— sam eifling, Popular Mechanics, "How To Light a Match With Nothing But Other Matches," 28 Apr. 2016
It was packed in a foot-long mailing tube and filled with flash powder, a low-grade explosive that Mr. Kingsley made with aluminum powder and potassium chlorate.

— ashley southall, New York Times, "Brooklyn Man Arrested in Fatal Bombing That Police Say Missed Its Target," 28 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'potassium chlorate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of potassium chlorate

1866

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

potassium chlorate

noun

medical Definition of potassium chlorate

: a crystalline salt KClO₃ with a cooling saline taste that is used especially in veterinary medicine as a mild astringent (as in the treatment of stomatitis)