permanganate of potash
A student carefully adds a few crystals of permanganate of potash to a beaker of water.
Noun: A chemical compound, specifically an inorganic salt, known chemically as potassium permanganate (KMnO₄). It is characterized by its poisonous nature, formation of dark purple crystals, and production of a purple-red solution when dissolved in water. It is utilized for its strong oxidizing, bleaching, disinfectant, and antiseptic properties.
This term refers specifically to the chemical substance. It is used in technical, scientific, medical, and industrial contexts. * In chemistry, it is a common laboratory reagent. * In medicine and first aid, it has been used in dilute solutions as an antiseptic. * In water treatment, it acts as an oxidizing agent to remove impurities. * In various industries, it serves as a bleaching agent.
- A dilute solution of permanganate of potash was once used to treat fungal skin infections.
- The laboratory procedure required oxidizing the compound with permanganate of potash.
- The characteristic purple color of the water confirmed the presence of permanganate of potash.
- The term is largely synonymous with the systematic name potassium permanganate, which is more commonly used in modern scientific literature.
- It is often referenced by its appearance, e.g., "purple crystals" or "purple solution," in non-technical descriptions.
- Potassium permanganate: The modern and more precise IUPAC name for the same compound (KMnO₄).
- Permanganate: The general name for the anion (MnO₄⁻), of which this is the potassium salt. Other salts include sodium permanganate.
- Potassium permanganate
- KMnO₄ (chemical formula)
- Chameleon mineral (archaic name)
The definition is highly specific and technical. It does not have idiomatic or figurative meanings. Its core meaning is the chemical compound itself, defined by its properties (poisonous, purple crystals, oxidizing agent) and its uses.
A student carefully adds a few crystals of permanganate of potash to a beaker of water.
- a poisonous salt that forms dark purple crystals and is purple-red when dissolved in water; used as an oxidizing and bleaching agent and as a disinfectant and antiseptic