How is oxygen gas prepared from potassium chlorate? What is the role of `MnO_(2)` in this process?

Explanation

To prepare oxygen gas from potassium chlorate (KClO₃), we follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Reaction**:
Potassium chlorate (KClO₃) can decompose to produce potassium chloride (KCl) and oxygen gas (O₂) when heated. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:
\[
2 \text{KClO}_3 (s) \rightarrow 2 \text{KCl} (s) + 3 \text{O}_2 (g)
...