Tetramethylammonium perchlorate is a

perchlorate A perchlorate is a chemical compound containing the perchlorate ion, . The majority of perchlorates are commercially produced salts. They are mainly used as oxidizers for pyrotechnic devices and to control static electricity in food packaging. Per ...

salt with a condensed formula (CH₃)₄sup>+ClO₄⁻.

Preparation

Tetramethylammonium perchlorate can be produced by mixing cold, dilute

perchloric acid Perchloric acid is a mineral acid with the formula H Cl O4. Usually found as an aqueous solution, this colorless compound is a stronger acid than sulfuric acid, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. It is a powerful oxidizer when hot, but aqueous sol ...

with cold

tetramethylammonium hydroxide Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH or TMAOH) is a quaternary ammonium salt with molecular formula N(CH3)4+ OH−. It is commonly encountered in form of concentrated solutions in water or methanol. TMAH in solid state and its aqueous soluti ...

, the reaction will lead to a white

precipitation In meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravitational pull from clouds. The main forms of precipitation include drizzle, rain, sleet, snow, ice pellets, graupel and hail. ...

Uses

The perchlorate is used as an intermediate in organic synthesis, in chromatography and as a supporting electrolyte in electrochemistry. Along with

trimethylammonium perchlorate Trimethylamine (TMA) is an organic compound with the formula N(CH3)3. It is a colorless, hygroscopic, and flammable tertiary amine. It is a gas at room temperature but is usually sold as a 40% solution in water. (It is also sold in pressurized ...

, it was investigated as a component in

composite propellant Ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP) is a solid-propellant rocket fuel. It differs from many traditional solid rocket propellants such as black powder or Solid-fuel rocket#Zinc–sulfur (ZS) propellants, zinc-sulfur, not only in chemi ...

s during the Cold War, but without much success.

Preparation

Uses

References

Further reading