Thermal decomposition of sodium chlorate and chromium(III) oxide mixtures

A study of the thermal decomposition of intimate mixtures of sodium chlorate and chromium(III) oxide in different molar ratios was made employing thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, chemical analysis, infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Sodium chlorate in the presence of chromium(III) oxide starts to decompose around 180°, which is much below the decomposition temperature of pure NaClO3. Each mole of Cr2O3 consumes 8/3 moles of NaClO3, undergoing oxidation to sodium dichromate. © 1981 Heyden & Son Ltd., London and Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest.