Potassium Chlorate

1. Fireworks and Explosives

Fireworks/Fireworks

As an oxidizer, it provides the oxygen needed for combustion and generates colorful flames . It is often mixed with sulfur, charcoal, and metal powders  to make flash powders or explosive materials.

Explosives and Matches

Detonating fuse: Combined with perchlorates or azides, used for mining blasting.

Match head: In traditional "friction matches", potassium chlorate is contained, but modern safety matches have gradually been phased out .

2. Chemical Synthesis and Laboratory Uses

Oxidants

Used for preparing oxygen, commonly found in middle school experiments.

In organic synthesis, oxidizing alcohols, sulfides, etc.

Bleaching and Disinfection

Originally used for textile bleaching, but decreased due to the emergence of substitutes such as sodium hypochlorite; it can also be used as a disinfectant to treat wastewater or laboratory equipment.

3. Agriculture and Horticulture

Herbicides

Inhibiting the growth of mosses and algae, destroying plant cells through oxidation.

At high concentrations, it acts as a non-selective herbicide.