2．Chemical Property
（1） Oxidative decomposition occurs in ethanol and hydrogen peroxide.
(2) Potassium permanganate is one of the strongest oxidants greatly influenced by pH and possesses the strongest oxidation capacity in the acidic solution. Its corresponding acids, permanganate acid HMnO4 and acid anhydride Mn2O7, are all strong oxidants that can be automatically decomposed with heat emission, and will give rise to combustion when contacting organic matters.
(3)With strong oxidizing property, potassium permanganate is commonly used as an oxidant in the laboratory and industry, to be decomposed when it is in contact with ethanol. In the acid medium, it is slowly dissolved into manganese dioxide, potassium salt and oxygen. As light has a catalytic effect on this decomposition, it is often stored in brown bottles in the laboratory. From the diagram of element potential and the oxidation state diagram of free energy, it can be seen that it has very strong oxidability. In an alkaline solution, its oxidability is not as strong as it is in acidity. When it serves as oxidizing agent, its reducing product is different due to acid-base property of the medium.
(4) When it meets an organic matter, the product releases the nascent state oxygen and manganese dioxide without release of free-state oxygen molecules such that there is no bubble. The nascent state oxygen possesses functions of sterilization, deodorization and detoxification. Potassium permanganate has stronger antibacterial and deodorization function and durability in comparison with hydrogen peroxide solution. Manganese dioxide can be bonded with protein to become ash black complex, which has astringency at a low concentration and stimulation and corrosive action in a high concentration. Its sterilizing power increases with increment of concentration, and it is able to kill propagule of the majority of bacteria with solution of 0.1% concentration, and kill bacteria within 24 hours with solution of 2%~5% concentration. In an acidic condition, it can significantly improve the bactericidal effect, for instance, adding 1.1% of hydrochloric acid to 1% solution, it can kill anthrax endospores within 30 seconds.
(5) Potassium permanganate is thermolabile.

3. Functions and Uses
It is widely used as an oxidant in chemical production, for instance it serves as an oxidant for making saccharin, vitamin C, isoniazid and benzoic acid; used as a preservative, disinfectant, deodorant and disinfectant in medicine; In the treatment of water quality purification and waste water treatment, it serves as water treatment agent to oxidize pollutants such as hydrogen sulfide, phenol, iron, manganese and organic and inorganic contaminants in order to control the odor and decolorization. In addition it is also used as bleach, adsorbent, coloring agent and disinfectant and it finds wide uses in smelting, military industry, printing-dyeing, electroplating, electronics, medicine and other industries.

4. Preparation Methods
There are two preparation methods commonly used:
(1)Take manganese dioxide from the ore, heat it with potassium hydroxide in the air or mixed potassium nitrate (oxygen provided) to obtain potassium manganate, and then it is electrolyzed with the oxidants in alkaline solution to obtain potassium permanganate.
(2)It is produced by the reaction of Mn ions with strong oxidants such as lead dioxide (PbO2) or sodium bismuthate (NaBiO3); Lots of industrialization production methods are available:
a.Martin Process: The production principle: mix the pyrolusite with the high temperature alkali. After cooling and grinding powder, it is roasted and produced on the martin furnace. The whole process is completely open, where the manganese dust, smoke dust and alkali fog cause great environmental pollution, showing the disadvantages of great labor intensity, low thermal efficiency and high energy consumption. In 2010, it was requested by Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in its 2010 No.122 Document that the manufacturing technique of Martin process shall be eliminated by the end of 2010.
b. Brick-kiln Process: The roasting process is put into the rotary kiln, where, air passes in to conduct oxidization in order to prepare potassium manganate. The reaction condition of this process is harsh and the reaction is highly incomplete, showing that the process has the disadvantages such as awful noise, easily-created coking, high maintenance and high energy consumption. At present, it has been basically eliminated from the market;
c.Liquid phase oxidation style: Heat the alkali in a liquid phase reaction vessel, add pyrolusite in proportion with theoretical oxygen demand to produce and obtain potassium manganate. The method needs simple equipment with less manganese dust and shorter reaction time; but higher requirement is raised for the raw materials and it also belongs to intermittent production with high production cost;
d.Continuous production of patented technologies: Patented tower-type facility is adopted, which allows continuous feeding, reaction and ejection of compact to make and obtain the product. It has advantages such as high production capacity, shorter reaction time, higher conversion rate of raw materials, low labor intensity, no manganese dust, no smoke dust and no alkali fog pollution. This technology is a major breakthrough in the production of potassium permanganate, being hailed as "a revolution in inorganic salts."

5. Hazardous Characteristics
It is a strong oxidizing agent that will explode when it meets with the concentrated sulfuric acid and ammonium salt; it will cause spontaneous combustion when meeting with glycerine; and it has risk of combustion explosion in case it contacts or mixes with organic materials, reducers, flammables such as sulphur and phosphorus.
Method of fire extinguishing: using water, spray water and sand to put out a fire. .

6. Emergency Treatment
Contaminated areas are isolated and access to them is restricted. Emergency personnel shall put on mask (full face mask) and wear protective clothing. They shall not directly contact the spillage matters, and mix a small amount of leakage with sand, dry lime or soda ash and use clean shovels to collect them, putting them into dry, clean and covered containers. A large number of leaks are collected or transported to waste treating sites for disposal.

7. Matters Needing Attention in Operation
Closed operation and intensified ventilation. Operators must be specially trained to strictly abide by the operating procedures. Persons are kept away from tinder and heat source, and smoking, eating and drinking water are strictly prohibited at the workplace. It is required to avoid contacting with the reducing agent and active metal powder. When handling, care must be taken to conduct loading and unloading to prevent damage to the packaging and containers. It is necessary to equip with corresponding variety and quantity of fire-fighting equipment and facilities to carry out emergency treatment of leakage.

8. Refuting a rumor
Rumor 1: Potassium permanganate is a poison and one will be injured in case he (she) touches it.
Correct interpretation: Potassium permanganate belongs to a chemical with strong oxidizing property. When used as required, it will not injure people but has disinfection and curative function.

Example: Using solution of 1:1000 concentration to soak fruits and vegetables contaminated by bacteria, it is able to kill bacteria in 5 minutes without changing color and taste of the fruits and vegetables.

9. Product Classification

10. Fields
Smelting and Military Industry
Printing-Dyeing and Pigments
Textile and Tanning
Electroplating and Anticorrosion
Electron Industry
Water Treatment and Environmental Protection
Planting and Cultivation
Chemical Materials
Medicine
New Energy- New Products
Other