What is "perchloric acid"

Oxychloric \Ox`y*chlo"ric\, a. [Oxy

1. + chloric.] (Chem.) (a) Of, pertaining to, or designating in general, certain compounds containing oxygen and chlorine.

2. Formerly designating an acid now called perchloric acid. See Perchloric.

n. 1 A clear colourless liquid; a strong acid and a violent, sometimes explosive, oxidizing agent 2 (context chemistry English) HClO₄, the oxyacid of chlorine in which chlorine has the highest oxidation number

n. a powerful oxidizing agent; forms perchlorates

Perchloric acid is a mineral acid with the formula HClO. Usually found as an aqueous solution, this colorless compound is a stronger acid than sulfuric and nitric acid. It is a powerful oxidizer when hot, but its aqueous solutions up to approximately 70% by weight at room temperature are generally safe, only showing strong acid features and no oxidizing properties. Perchloric acid is useful for preparing perchlorate salts, especially ammonium perchlorate, an important rocket fuel component. Perchloric acid is dangerously corrosive and readily forms potentially explosive mixtures.