Permanganate
Permanganate is the tetrahedral oxyanion MnO₄⁻, with manganese in the +7 oxidation state, and the name of salts containing this ion.
Oxidation–reduction reaction: A chemical reaction in which electrons move between species, changing their oxidation states. Permanganate accepts electrons as manganese is reduced from its +7 oxidation state.
Potassium permanganate: A purple crystalline salt, KMnO₄, that dissolves in water to release permanganate ions. It is the most widely encountered laboratory and commercial permanganate salt.
Oxidation state: A bookkeeping value that represents an atom's formal electron loss or gain in a compound. Manganese's +7 state identifies permanganate as a strong electron acceptor.
Dichromate: The orange oxyanion Cr₂O₇²⁻, a strong oxidizing agent containing chromium in the +6 oxidation state. Dichromate is a classic alternative oxidant, but its color and environmental hazards differ.
Sodium permanganate: A water-soluble ionic compound, NaMnO₄, that supplies permanganate ions. Its high solubility makes it useful where concentrated aqueous permanganate is needed.
Manganese dioxide: An inorganic compound with formula MnO₂, containing manganese in the +4 oxidation state. Reduction of permanganate commonly produces this brown solid in neutral or basic solution.
Permanganate index: A measure of oxidizable substances in water based on the amount of permanganate consumed under specified conditions. The test uses permanganate's oxidizing capacity to assess water quality.
Oxyanion: A negatively charged polyatomic ion containing oxygen bonded to another element. Permanganate belongs to this family of oxygen-containing anions.
Chlorate: The oxyanion ClO₃⁻, containing chlorine in the +5 oxidation state. Chlorate is another oxygen-rich oxidant, but it has different reaction pathways and handling risks.
Silver permanganate: An ionic compound, AgMnO₄, containing silver cations and permanganate anions. It exemplifies how the same oxyanion forms salts with different cations and properties.