Characteristic

Potassium permanganate is a chemical compound with chemical formula KMnO4; specifically, a salt consisting of K+ and MnO⁻

4 ions (with manganese is in the +7 oxidation state). It is a purplish-black crystalline solid, that dissolves in water to give intensely pink or purple solutions.

Chemical formula:KMnO₄

Molar mass:158.034 g/mol

Appearance:Purplish-bronze-gray needles;Magenta–rose in solution

Odor:odorless

Density:2.7 g/cm³:4.83

Melting point:240 °C (464 °F; 513 K) (decomposes)

Solubility in water:76 g/L (25 °C);250 g/L (65 °C)

Solubility:decomposes in alcohol and organic solvents

Magnetic susceptibility (χ):+20.0·10−6 cm³/mol:4.134

Refractive index (nD):1.59

Crystal structure:Orthorhombic

Application

Potassium permanganate is an oxidizing agent, is used in the synthesis of organic compounds like ascorbic acid, chloramphenicol, saccharin, isonicotinic acid and pyrazinoic acid and in pharmaceutical intermediate. It is used to remove ferrous impurities from inorganic chemicals. It is also used in analytical chemistry as a reagent for redox titrations and to determine the kappa number of wood pulp. It is mostly used in water treatment and as a disinfectant. It also shows useful application as a chemiluminescence reagent.