Potassium Permanganate Formula

The chemical formula for potassium permanganate is  (KMnO4​). Having one potassium atom, one manganese atom, and four oxygen atoms.

Physical properties

State: Solid at room temperature

Appearance: Generally comes as a dark purple or black crystalline solid

Color: Deep purple or dark violet crystals

Odor: Odorless

Boiling Point: Decomposes rather than boiling; starting decomposition at around 240°C (464°F)

Melting Point: Melts at approximately 150°C (302°F), though it may decompose out of this temperature.

Density: Approximately 2.7 g /cm³.

Solubility: It is water-soluble, forming a purple solution. Its solubility is about 6.4 g/100 mL at 20°C or 68°F.

Chemical properties

Oxidizing Agent: Potassium permanganate is a very powerful oxidizer. It reacts with substances (organic and inorganic) and reducing agents. Generally, in acid solution, it reduces substances to manganese (II) ions; that is, from colored purple to colorless or pale pink.

Reaction of Hydrogen Peroxide: Potassium permanganate reacts with hydrogen peroxide in an acidic medium. It is because it is reduced to manganese(II) ion while hydrogen peroxide is oxidized to oxygen

Reaction of Sulfur Dioxide: In an acid solution, potassium permanganate acts as an oxidizing agent for sulfur dioxide. It is reduced to manganese(II) ions while sulfur dioxide is oxidized to sulfate

Decomposition: It decomposes upon strong heating to potassium manganate . 

On further heating, potassium manganate decomposes to potassium oxide, manganese dioxide, and oxygen.

Reaction with Organic Compounds: Potassium permanganate can oxidize a wide range of organic compounds like alcohols and alkenes. For instance, it can oxidize primary alcohols into carboxylic acids and alkenes to diols.

Reaction in Neutral or Basic Solutions: The permanganate ion is reduced to manganese dioxide, which forms a brown precipitate in a neutral or basic solution.

Application

Disinfection: It is used in water treatment to disinfect drinking water and wastewater. In such conditions, it kills bacteria and other microorganisms.

Oxidizing Agent: It oxidizes impurities like iron and manganese. This helps in purifying water by removing these impurities.

Antiseptic: It is used as an after-treatment in dilution form in small cuts and scratches due to its fight-back nature with infection.

Fungal Infections: Its solutions are also used to cure fungal infections of the foot and inguinal regions, which include ringworm and athlete's foot. 

Titration: This is generally utilized in redox titrations for the determination of the concentration of reducing agents. Such quantitative analysis, for example, is used in the determination of hydrogen peroxide and oxalic acid.

Qualitative Testing: This is useful in qualitative testing to identify trace elements.

Oxidation Reactions: An oxidizing agent is very useful in the preparation of a large number of organic compounds through the oxidation of alcohols into aldehydes or ketones.

Dyeing: Bleaching and modification of dyes within the textile industry.

Household Cleaning: Accomplished through incorporation into cleaning solutions used either for disinfection or removal of stains, owing to its strong oxidizing powers.

Soil Treatment: Applied in environmental clean-up, with application on contaminated soils and groundwater, which oxidizes the pollutants.

Fungicide: Employed in some agricultural practices for the control of fungal diseases among crops.

Research: It is used in the study of many lab experiments on redox reactions and other chemical processes.

Conclusion

Potassium permanganate is an all-around oxidizer used in water treatment, for medical purposes, in some chemical tests, and in industrial procedures. It acts powerfully due to strong oxidation but with certain precautions against overall reactivity.

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