What occurs when KClO3 decomposes upon heating?

When potassium chlorate (KClO3) undergoes decomposition upon heating, it primarily breaks down into potassium chloride (KCl) and oxygen gas (O2). The balanced chemical reaction for this decomposition is:

2 KClO3(s) → 2 KCl(s) + 3 O2(g)

This reaction highlights how the stable compound KClO3, when subjected to heat, initiates a breakdown process that results in the formation of two new products: a solid, potassium chloride, and a gaseous product, which is oxygen. This behavior is characteristic of many chlorates, where they release oxygen upon decomposition when heated. Understanding this reaction is important in the context of chemical reactions, as it illustrates concepts of conservation of mass and the transformation of substances under certain conditions.