potassium permanganate

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a very dark purple, crystalline, water-soluble solid, KMnO 4 , used chiefly as an oxidizing agent, disinfectant, laboratory reagent, and in medicine as an astringent and antiseptic.

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potassium permanganate British  

noun

1. Systematic name: potassium manganate(VII).  a dark purple poisonous odourless soluble crystalline solid, used as a bleach, disinfectant, and antiseptic. Formula: KMnO 4

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potassium permanganate Scientific  

1. A dark purple crystalline compound used as an oxidizing agent and disinfectant and in deodorizers and dyes. Chemical formula: KMnO ₄ .

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Etymology

Origin of potassium permanganate

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Remote-controlled aircraft drop spheres the size of ping-pong balls, filled with two compounds: potassium permanganate and glycol.

From Scientific American • Oct. 29, 2021

The company stores up to half a million pounds of reactive and toxic potassium permanganate.

From Washington Times • May 12, 2016

Axine’s approach is an alternative to the conventional use of chemicals such as ozone, hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate to neutralize the toxic compounds.

From Forbes • Feb. 12, 2014

Some 18th and 19 century doctors injected caustic solutions of silver nitrate or potassium permanganate into the urethra or vagina, while others inserted long, thin metal rods in the penile urethra.

From Slate • Oct. 25, 2011

Twenty years ago our medical journals contained any number of cases in which a solution of potassium permanganate seemed to have proved effective in neutralizing not only opium itself but its alkaloids and derivatives.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)