The chlorate ion, represented as ClO3-, is a polyatomic ion consisting of one chlorine atom bonded to three oxygen atoms. It carries a negative charge of one, which is due to the presence of an extra electron. Chlorate is commonly found in various chemical compounds and is often used in agriculture as a herbicide and in the production of chlorine dioxide. In terms of its structure, the chlorate ion has a trigonal pyramidal shape, with the chlorine atom at the center and the oxygen atoms at the corners. The bond angles between the oxygen atoms are approximately 107 degrees. Chlorate can participate in redox reactions and is an important intermediate in the chlorine chemistry.