This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:
ClVII + 8 e- → Cl-I (reduction)
4 O-II - 8 e- → 4 O0 (oxidation)
KClO4 is an oxidizing agent, KClO4 is a reducing agent.
Word equation
potassium perchlorate → potassium chloride + oxygen
Input interpretation
KClO4 → KCl + O2
Potassium perchlorate potassium chloride oxygen
Balanced equation
Balance the chemical equation algebraically:
KClO4 → KCl + O2
Add stoichiometric coefficients, c, to the reactants and products:
c1KClO4 → c2 KCl + c3O2
Set the number of atoms in the reactants equal to the number of atoms in the products for Cl, K and O:
Cl: c1 = c2
K: c1 = c2
O: 4c1 = 2c3
Since the coefficients are relative quantities and underdetermined, choose a coefficient to set arbitrarily. To keep the coefficients small, the arbitrary value is ordinarily one. For instance, set c1 = 1 and solve the system of equations for the remaining coefficients:
c1 = 1 c2=1
c3=2
Substitute the coefficients into the chemical reaction to obtain the balanced
equation:
Answer:
KClO4 → KCl + O2
