Barium chlorate in some sodium contamination, which is undesirable for pyrotechnic purposes, where the strong yellow of sodium can easily overpower the green of barium. Sodium-free barium chlorate can be produced directly through electrolysis: It can also be produced by the reaction of barium carbonate with boiling ammonium chlorate solution: The reaction initially produces barium chlorate and ammonium carbonate; boiling the solution decomposes the ammonium carbonate and drives off the resulting ammonia and carbon dioxide, leaving only barium chlorate in solution. When exposed to heat, barium chlorate alone will decompose to barium chloride and oxygen: Barium chlorate is used to produce chloric
Calcium chlorate with strong sulfuric acid can result in explosions due to the instability of concentrated chloric acid. Contact with ammonium compounds can also cause violent decomposition due to the formation of unstable ammonium chlorate. Calcium chlorate has been used as an herbicide, like sodium chlorate. Calcium chlorate is occasionally used in pyrotechnics, as an oxidizer and pink flame colorant. Its hygroscopic nature and incompatibility with other common pyrotechnic materials (such as sulfur) limit its utility in these applications. Calcium chlorate Calcium chlorate is the calcium salt of chloric acid, with the chemical formula Ca(ClO). Like other chlorates, it is a strong