Potassium Permanganate (redirected from Condy's crystals)

potassium permanganate [pə′tas·ē·əm pər′man·gə‚nāt]

(inorganic chemistry)

KMnO₄Highly oxidative, water-soluble, purple crystals with sweet taste; decomposes at 240°C; and explodes in contact with oxidizable materials; used as a disinfectant and analytical reagent, in dyes, bleaches, and medicines, and as a chemical intermediate. Also known as purple salt.

---

Potassium Permanganate 

KMnO₄, a salt; dark violet crystals. Density, 2.703 g/cm³. Soluble in water (6.4 g per 100 g H₂0 at 20°C and 22.2 g at 60°C; solutions are red-violet in color), and also in methanol, acetic acid, and acetone. Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidizing agent; an explosion may occur when KMnO₄ is mixed with concentrated H2SO4, as well as with certain organic substances, such as glycerol. Potassium permanganate is obtained by fusing pyrolusite, MnO₂, with KOH and subsequent electrolytic oxidation of the resultant K₂MnO4. (For information on the use of KMnO₄, see PERMANGANATES.)