Sodium chlorate

Synonyms

Agrosan; Asex; Atlacide; B-Herbatox; Chlorate de sodium [ISO-French]; Chlorate salt of sodium; Chloric acid, sodium salt; Chlorsaure [German]; De-Fol-Ate; Defol; Dervan; Desolet; Drexel defol; Drop-Leaf; Evau-Super; Fall; Grain sorghum harvest-aid; Granex O; Harvest-aid; Hibar C; KM; Kusa-tohru; Kusatol; Leafex 2; Leafex 3; Natrium chloraat [Dutch]; Natrium chlorat [German]; Natriumchloraat [Dutch]; Natriumchlorat [German]; Ortho C-1 defoliant & weed killer; Ortho-C-1-Defoliant; Oxycil; Rasikal; Shed-A-Leaf "L"; Shed-A-leaf; Soda chlorate; Sodakem; Sodio (clorato di) [Italian]; Sodium (chlorate de) [French]; Sodium chlorate [ISO]; Sodium(chlorate de) [French]; Travex; Tumbleaf; Tumbleleaf; United Chemical Defoliant No. 1; VAL-DROP; Weed Killer; [ChemIDplus] UN1495; UN2428 (aqeous solution)

Category

Other Inorganic Compounds

Description

Colorless or white odorless solid; [Merck Index] Slightly hygroscopic; [CHEMINFO] Colorless or light yellow granules; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used as oxidizing agent and bleach for wood and paper pulps; in ore processing (uranium and vanadium); as herbicide, defoliant, desiccant, semi-permanent soil sterilant, and harvest aid; in matches, explosives, flares, and pyrotechnics; to recover bromine from natural brines; for leather tanning and finishing; as textile mordant and bleaching agent; to make perchlorates, potassium chlorate, chloric acid, and chlorine dioxide; as oxidizer in making dyes, rocket propellants, and pharmaceuticals; in toothpastes and mouthwashes; as a sweetening agent in oil refineries; [HSDB] Used in metal etching and oxygen generation in rescue breathing apparatus; [CHEMINFO]

Comments

A strong oxidant and fire hazard on contact with organic substances; [Hawley] A fire and explosion hazard on contact with combustible and reducing materials; A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; Can induce methemoglobinemia; May cause kidney injury; [ICSC] A skin, eye, and upper respiratory tract irritant; Ingestion of toxic doses can cause hemolysis, methemoglobinemia, cyanosis, acute renal failure, and liver injury; [HSDB] A strong oxidizing agent that reacts explosively with organic materials; An eye irritant; Ingestion can cause respiratory failure and injury to kidneys and liver; [CAMEO] Can cause combustion or explosion on contact with combustible or flammable substances; Ingestion may cause methemoglobinemia and kidney injury; [CHEMINFO] An eye and mild skin irritant; May cause skin sensitization; [eChemPortal: ERMA] An oxidizing agent; May cause explosion on contact with combustible material; An irritant; Can induce methemoglobinemia; [MSDSonline] See "CHLORATES."

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

LC50 (rat) > 7,000 mg/m3/4h

Hemolytic anemia

MetHgb is secondary toxic effect

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Farming (Pesticides)
• Leather Tanning and Processing
• Metal Extraction and Refining
• Petroleum Production and Refining
• Pulp and Paper Processing
• Textiles (Fiber & Fabric Manufacturing)