Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chemical compound: "permanganate" refers specifically to a salt containing the anion MnO₄⁻, derived from permanganic acid (HMnO₄). It is characterized by its strong oxidizing properties and intense purple color in aqueous solution.

Usage

• General Use: The term is used primarily in chemistry, medicine, and water treatment contexts to denote the compound itself or its solutions.
• Common Contexts: Discussing disinfectants, antiseptics, oxidizing agents, or chemical reactions.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Potassium permanganate is a common laboratory reagent.
  • A dilute solution of permanganate can be used to treat certain skin infections.
  • The oxidation of an alkene can be tested with acidified permanganate solution.

Advanced Usage

• "Permanganate titration": A quantitative analytical method in chemistry where a permanganate solution is used as the titrant to determine the concentration of a reducing agent.
  • The iron content was determined by permanganate titration.
• "Permanganate value": A water quality index, especially for assessing organic matter in water.
  • A high permanganate value indicates significant organic pollution in the water sample.

Variants and Related Words

• Permanganic acid (n): The parent acid (HMnO₄) from which permanganate salts are derived.
  • Permanganic acid is unstable and exists only in solution.
• Potassium permanganate (n): The most common and commercially important permanganate salt, with the formula KMnO₄.
  • Potassium permanganate crystals are a deep purple color.

Synonyms

• KMnO₄ (n): The chemical formula for potassium permanganate, often used synonymously in informal contexts.
• Oxidizing agent (n): A general term describing its primary chemical function, though not a direct synonym.

Related Phrases

• Acidified permanganate: A solution of permanganate (usually potassium permanganate) to which a strong acid like sulfuric acid has been added to increase its oxidizing power.
  • Acidified permanganate rapidly decolorizes when it reacts with sulfur dioxide.
• Permanganate bath: A solution used for soaking items for disinfection or chemical treatment.
  • Farmers sometimes use a permanganate bath to disinfect tools.

Noun

1. a dark purple salt of permanganic acid; in water solution it is used as a disinfectant and antiseptic