Detailed Product Description:

This is an 8% (w/w) aqueous solution of potassium permanganate, often called

a permanganate salt solution.

Background:

Potassium permanganate is a manganese salt.  Also known as "permanganate

of potash," it is a strong oxidizing agent.  Dark-purple crystalline solid

with blue metallic sheen.  It dissolves in water to give deep purple solutions,

evaporation of which gives prismatic purplish-black glistening crystals.  It

has a sweet flavor.  Odorless.  Soluble in water, acetone, and methanol. 

Grade/Purity:

This is ACS Reagent Grade with a minimum purity of 99.8%

Applications/Uses:

Commonly used as an oxidizer for water treatment, disinfectant, as a medical

antiseptic, deodorizers, bleaches, radioactive decontamination of the skin.

Potassium permanganate can be used in rural areas to remove iron and

hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) from well water by oxidation.  A degree

of disinfection may also be achieved from this use.  It similarly removes

hydrogen sulfide from waste water.

It is often included in survival kits along with either glycerine or a glucose tablet

for the purposes of making fire.  The glucose tablet can be ground up, mixed with

the potassium permanganate and caused to combust by applying friction.  It can

also be mixed with anti-freeze from a vehicle (a source of glycols) to produce flame,

although this can be dangerous and should be done in a controlled manner, such

as dipping some paper into the anti-freeze and then adding a small amount of

potassium permanganate.  The ability to sterilize water and wounds is another

reason for inclusion in a survival kit.

Precautions:

Dangerous fire and explosion risk in contact with organic materials.  Powerful

oxidizing agent.  Irritant to skin and tissue. 

Solid Potassium Permanganate is a strong oxidizer and in general it should be

kept separated from oxidizable substances.  Dilute aqueous solutions of KMnO4

are not dangerous.  This substance forms dangerous products upon contact with

concentrated acids.  For instance, a reaction with concentrated sulfuric acid

produces the highly explosive manganese (VII) oxide (Mn2O7).

As an oxidizer, potassium permanganate stains the hands and clothing.  Clothing

stains may be washed away using acetic acid.  Skin stains, which are typically

brown, disappear within 48 hours.

Download MSDS below.  Read and understand precautions fully before using

this substance.

Click here to download MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)

Packaging:

Contents of 500ml comes packed in amber glass bottle.  Also available in

250ml size.