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

One of the containers involved was carrying perchloric acid, which is used in explosives as well as a variety of food and drug products, Tysver said.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 14, 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

It is possible to prepare them from reactions of bases with perchloric acid and, commercially, by the electrolysis of hot solutions of their chlorides.

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