Page 42 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

Potassium permanganate
Manganese has compounds with striking colours. Some are used in the paint industry as pigments. Manganese sulphate is bright red and is used to colour enamels; manganese carbonate is white.
When a manganese compound reacts with potassium nitrate, a deep green compound (potassium manganate) results. Further reaction with sulphuric acid produces purple potassium permanganate (an oxidising agent used for bleaching and as a mild disinfectant).
 Potassium permanganate being used to investigate convection effects in a school laboratory tank.
One of the most widely used compounds of manganese is potassium permanganate. It is a mild disinfectant. It is water soluble and has a strong colour, making it suitable for use as a tracing dye.
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