Radiation Decomposition of Sodium Chlorate

Abstract

THE decomposition of alkali chlorates by ionizing radiation has already been examined. In 1959, Heal¹identified chloride, chlorite, hypochlorite, oxygen, dichlorine hexoxide and chlorine dioxide as the decomposition products from solid potassium chlorate subjected to X-rays. Baberkin² reported only chloride, oxygen and chlorite as products of the decomposition of solid potassium chlorate by cobalt-60 γ-rays. The yield of chlorite was 1.2 molecules formed/100 e V. of energy absorbed. In samples afterwards heated to 200° C. the yield of chlorite decreased to 0.8 molecule/100 eV. The decrease in the yield of chlorite was attributed to its decomposition into chloride and oxygen. An investigation of the decomposition of solid sodium, potassium and barium chlorates by cobalt-60 γ-rays has been carried out by Burchill³. Oxygen, chlorite and chloride were identified as major products in solutions of the irradiated salts, with smaller amounts of chlorine dioxide, hypochlorite and perchlorate being formed.