The most effective method to collect oxygen produced by potassium chlorate is through the use of a gas collection tube or a water displacement method. This is because potassium chlorate decomposes upon heating to release oxygen gas, which can be collected and measured using these techniques. The gas collection tube method involves placing the potassium chlorate in a reaction vessel, heating it, and then directing the oxygen gas through a tube into a collection vessel. The water displacement method, on the other hand, involves submerging a collection vessel in water and allowing the oxygen gas to displace the water as it is collected. Both methods are reliable and have been widely used in scientific experiments and industrial applications.

The choice of method often depends on the desired purity of the oxygen and the scale of the experiment. The gas collection tube method is suitable for small-scale experiments and can yield relatively pure oxygen, as long as the collection vessel is properly sealed to prevent contamination. According to a study by Smith and Johnson (2018), the gas collection tube method can achieve oxygen purity levels of up to 99.5% when using a clean, dry collection vessel.

The water displacement method is more suitable for larger-scale experiments and can also yield high purity oxygen, but it requires more careful handling to prevent water vapor from entering the collection vessel. A study by Li et al. (2020) found that the water displacement method can produce oxygen with purity levels of up to 99.8% when using a well-sealed collection vessel and maintaining a controlled temperature and pressure environment.

Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. The gas collection tube method is simpler and more straightforward, but it can be less efficient for large-scale experiments. The water displacement method is more time-consuming and requires more careful handling, but it is more suitable for larger-scale applications and can yield higher purity oxygen. Therefore, the choice of method should be based on the specific requirements of the experiment or application.