The decomposition of ammonium chlorate was studied by measuring the pressure of non-condensable gases formed and the loss in weight. Both methods resulted in almost identical ~/t curves. A measurable decomposition started at 50C, but some days after preparation a slight decomposition was observed even at -5C. The stability of the compound decreased with ageing. Explosion of the fresh substance occurred at 90 C. The solid residue from the decomposition consisted of ammonium nitrate and undecomposed ammonium chlorate. The reaction was autocatalytic in character and was described by the Avrami-Erofeyev equation. The activation energy, calculated from the slopes of time lag and rate constant against 1 / T, was 22 to 25 kcal. A similar value for the activation energy was found from the temperature dependence of the induction period before explosion. It was observed that the addition o1" chioric acid to ammonium chlorate considerably increased the rate of decomposition whilst ammonia had the opposite effect.
It was assumed that the decomposition proceeds according to a proton transfer process.