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Perchlorate
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<p>A perchlorate is a <a href="/facts/Chemical_compound/37FXqqtv">chemical compound</a> containing the perchlorate <a href="/facts/Ion/3bePpDna">ion</a>, ClO−4, the <a href="/facts/Conjugate_base/hohgQ07M">conjugate base</a> of <a href="/facts/Perchloric_acid/gjhK386J">perchloric acid</a> (ionic perchlorate). As counterions, there can be <a href="/facts/Metal/PT8hNX6R">metal</a> <a href="/facts/Cations/wrbwhF3z">cations</a>, <a href="/facts/Quaternary_ammonium_cation/bNpF1goc">quaternary ammonium cations</a> or other ions, for example, <a href="/facts/Nitronium_ion/ATVyweb5">nitronium cation</a> (NO+2). </p><p>The term <i>perchlorate</i> can also describe perchlorate esters or covalent perchlorates. These are organic compounds that are <a href="/facts/Alkyl_group/vmEk8X4v">alkyl</a> or <a href="/facts/Aryl_group/M3z7QRXd">aryl</a> <a href="/facts/Ester/FoUAIIw4">esters</a> of <a href="/facts/Perchloric_acid/gjhK386J">perchloric acid</a>. They are characterized by a <a href="/facts/Covalent_bond/EzMLf3Pz">covalent bond</a> between an <a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">oxygen</a> atom of the ClO4 <a href="/facts/Moiety_(chemistry)/WxKqcJe1">moiety</a> and an <a href="/facts/Organyl_group/RgeaN5jm">organyl group</a>. </p><p>In most ionic perchlorates, the <a href="/facts/Cation/wrbwhF3z">cation</a> is <a href="/facts/Non-coordinating_anion/0DEsrUlx">non-coordinating</a>. The majority of ionic perchlorates are commercially produced salts commonly used as oxidizers for pyrotechnic devices and for their ability to control <a href="/facts/Static_electricity/tkGDkl7f">static electricity</a> in <a href="/facts/Food_packaging/E6SFz4eM">food packaging</a>. Additionally, they have been used in <a href="/facts/Rocket_propellant/IyFhQEA2">rocket propellants</a>, <a href="/facts/Fertilizer/ysh3r6NJ">fertilizers</a>, and as <a href="/facts/Bleaching_agent/QPxAysPl">bleaching agents</a> in the <a href="/facts/Paper_industry/EkhVtwNo">paper</a> and <a href="/facts/Textile_industry/KYCR1hcR">textile industries</a>. </p><p>Perchlorate contamination of food and <a href="/facts/Water/0lkXnJPK">water</a> endangers human health, primarily affecting the <a href="/facts/Thyroid_gland/bjovTJVu">thyroid gland</a>. </p><p>Ionic perchlorates are typically colorless solids that exhibit good <a href="/facts/Solubility/kLE9h3Jb">solubility</a> in <a href="/facts/Water/0lkXnJPK">water</a>. The perchlorate ion forms when they dissolve in water, <a href="/facts/Dissociation_(chemistry)/gDRGdeSN">dissociating</a> into ions. Many perchlorate salts also exhibit good <a href="/facts/Solubility/kLE9h3Jb">solubility</a> in non-aqueous <a href="/facts/Solvent/LoMPMz8S">solvents</a>. Four perchlorates are of primary commercial interest: <a href="/facts/Ammonium_perchlorate/BDMsvjxu">ammonium perchlorate</a> (NH4)ClO4, <a href="/facts/Perchloric_acid/gjhK386J">perchloric acid</a> HClO4, <a href="/facts/Potassium_perchlorate/h4KmomHk">potassium perchlorate</a> KClO4 and <a href="/facts/Sodium_perchlorate/crnf8NU1">sodium perchlorate</a> NaClO4. </p>