You are here:
PERCHLORATE FACTS
Citation:
Urbansky*, E T. PERCHLORATE FACTS. Presented at Region 3 stakeholders meeting, Beltsville, MD, 7/13/99.
Description:
Perchlorate is an anion (negative ion) with the formula C1O 4-. Perchlorate salts are famous in inorganic chemistry on account of their high solubilities. As a result, they are very difficult to remove. Although hot and concentrated perchloric acid is a strong oxidizing agent, the anion, when dilute and cold (<100degree C = 212 degree F), is extremely unreactive from a kinetic standpoint. Consequently, the oxidizing properties of perchlorate cannot be observed at the concentrtions normally found in water supplies (<1 ug mL-1 or ppm). Because perchlorate is an anion, it must be paired with a cation (positive ion). Although usually produced as the ammonium salt, dilute solutions (such as ground or surface waters) are best considered to be present as the sodium salt since that is the most abundant cation. In addition, ammonium is rapidly biodegraded in the environment. For more information, refer to A.A. Schilt. Perchloric Acid and Perchlorates. GFS Chemical Co., Columbus, Ohio, 1979.