perchloric acid

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, syrupy hygroscopic liquid, HClO 4 , an acid of chlorine containing one more oxygen atom than chloric acid: used chiefly as a reagent in analytical chemistry.

---

perchloric acid British  

/ pəˈklɔːrɪk /

noun

1. Systematic name: chloric(VII) acid.  a colourless syrupy oxyacid of chlorine containing a greater proportion of oxygen than chloric acid. It is a powerful oxidizing agent and is used as a laboratory reagent. Formula: HClO 4

---

perchloric acid Scientific  

/ pər-klôr′ĭk /

1. A clear, colorless liquid that is very corrosive and, under some conditions, extremely explosive. It is a powerful oxidant and is used as a catalyst and in explosives. Chemical formula: HClO ₄ .

---

Etymology

Origin of perchloric acid

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

perchloric acid

The perchloric acid, used in explosives and some industrial processes, was produced at a company in Ohio that hasn’t been publicly identified.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 23, 2023

The perchloric acid inside the container that exploded, which is used to make explosives as well as a variety of food and drug products, dissipated in the air as it burned off, Thompson said.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 15, 2023

Metallic powders such as aluminium often serve as the fuel, and ammonium perchlorate, which is the salt of perchloric acid and ammonia, is the most common oxidiser.

From Reuters ● Apr. 14, 2023

If all these strong acids are completely ionized in water, why does the column indicate they vary in strength, with nitric acid being the weakest and perchloric acid the strongest?

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Further concentration leads to decomposition, with evolution of oxygen and formation of perchloric acid.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 3 "Chitral" to "Cincinnati" by Various