A perchlorate salt (ClO containing perchlorate _{. 4} ^- ), such as potassium perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate and the like.

Potassium perchlorate, also known as potassium perchlorate, is the potassium salt of perchloric acid. It is an inorganic salt with a chemical formula of KClO ₄ , which has strong oxidizing properties . It is a colorless crystal or white powder with a melting point of about 610°C. It is commonly used as an oxidizing agent in fireworks and flash powders, and also as a detonator. It can be used as one of the solid rocket propellant materials, but this application has basically been replaced by ammonium perchlorate . Among all perchlorates, potassium perchlorate has the lowest solubility (1.5g/100g, water, 25°C).

Because the chemical properties of perchlorate are relatively more stable than chlorate, the state stipulates that perchlorate can be used in fireworks and firecrackers, but chlorate cannot be used, and chlorate can only be used in firecrackers. Perchlorate is also used as the pyrotechnic agent in some matches. The equivalent of perchlorate explosive is 0.6 times that of TNT.

At present, perchlorate is relatively easy to obtain in China. It can be obtained from fireworks, firecrackers, matches and other items, or it can be bought from chemical stores. Xinjiang police once found 49 kilograms of explosive materials obtained by terrorists from match heads. Police in other parts of the country have also found too many explosive devices made with perchlorate.

As perchlorate is easily available and can be used to make powerful explosive devices, detection and seizure of perchlorate has attracted more and more attention from the domestic police. However, because perchlorate is an inorganic salt and has no volatility, the domestic "explosive exploration" currently used for security inspections and explosions is almost powerless. At present, the domestic mainstream "explosive exploration" is based on ion mobility spectroscopy and fluorescent polymer principles, and cannot detect non-volatile inorganic salt explosives. In some places, Raman principle "explosive exploration" is used to detect inorganic salt explosives. This method is feasible but subject to many limitations. The main problems are as follows: 1. Because it uses lasers, it will detonate dark-colored explosives; 2. It is easily interfered by natural light from outside. ; 3. The sample size is relatively large; 4. It is impossible to take samples or direct detection from the skin and clothing of the flesh; 5. The samples are required to be pure and single substance.

The “Explosive Detector” of the GAK Detective series of automatic colorimetric principle introduced by Beijing Demei China Trade Company from the United States solves the problem of detecting various inorganic salt soil explosives. It is characterized by small size and light weight, no overload, no preheating, waterproof and shockproof, high sensitivity, low false alarm rate, military explosives, earth explosives, and drugs can be detected, convenient to carry, simple to use, and no maintenance. In Sichuan, Hebei, Inner Mongolia and other places, there have been many cases of successful detection of drugs, chlorate, and perchlorate explosives.