what is sodium chlorate

Sodium chlorate, an inorganic compound with the chemical formula NaClO3, usually appears as white or yellowish equiaxed crystals, salty and cool in taste, readily soluble in water and sparingly soluble in ethanol. It has a strong oxidizing effect in acidic solution and decomposes at temperatures above 300 degrees to produce oxygen. Sodium chlorate is unstable. When mixed with phosphorus, sulfur and organic substances, they are prone to combustion and explosion on impact, and are prone to moisture absorption and agglomeration.