Why does Sodium Chlorate dissolve the way that it does?

Question

Today in chemistry, I did a lab investigation that had me heat sodium chlorate under a Bunsen burner. I saw the product was a white solid and now my task is to write and balance an equation for the products and reactants. I know that sodium chlorate is NaCl3 and that oxygen was released because when I inserted a lighted splint, the fire rose significantly. Here's my questions:

1) How am I supposed to figure out what products are formed (in any reaction, not just this one)?

I've seen online that Sodium Chlorate dissolves into NaCl + O2.

2) Why doesn't it dissolve into NaClO + O2

I know how to balance the equation, I'm just having a little trouble determining products. Any help would be great!

kumorifox · Accepted Answer

You're confusing dissolving with decomposing. Dissolving means a solute dissolving into a solvent, a physical change. Decomposition means a breakdown of a substance, a chemical change.

Sodium chlorate is NaClO3.

When a substance is given the chance to decompose, it usually forms the most stable products possible. In the case of chlorine compounds, there are chlorides, where chlorine has an oxidation state of -1. This leads to NaCl. The overall reaction is, therefore, 2NaClO3 → 2NaCl + 3O2

NaClO is even less stable than NaClO3. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that NaClO will form, as it will decompose further to yield a more stable substance.

? · Answer

It's not only a dissolution your are doing by the way, it is actually a decomposition if done at over 250 degrees celsius

2 NaClO3 --> 2 NaCl + 3 O2

This is the balanced equation, basically NaClO3 releases all it's oxygen when decomposed, the free oxygen will react to stabilize itself by staying in pairs.

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Why does Sodium Chlorate dissolve the way that it does?

2 Answers