Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
MnO4- is the chemical formula for the permanganate ion, a powerful oxidizing agent commonly used in various chemical reactions and processes. It is a key term in the context of reviewing redox chemistry.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
The permanganate ion, MnO4-, is a strong oxidizing agent due to the high oxidation state of the manganese atom (+7).
In aqueous solutions, MnO4- can undergo reduction reactions, accepting electrons and being converted to other manganese species with lower oxidation states.
The intense purple color of MnO4- solutions makes it a useful indicator in redox titrations, where it can be used to detect the endpoint of the reaction.
MnO4- is commonly used as an oxidizing agent in various chemical processes, such as water treatment, organic synthesis, and analytical chemistry.
The reduction of MnO4- can be used to determine the concentration of reducing agents in a solution through quantitative analysis.
Review Questions
Explain the role of MnO4- as a powerful oxidizing agent in redox reactions.
The permanganate ion, MnO4-, is a strong oxidizing agent due to the high oxidation state of the manganese atom (+7). In redox reactions, MnO4- can readily accept electrons, undergoing reduction and being converted to other manganese species with lower oxidation states, such as Mn2+ or MnO2. This ability to accept electrons makes MnO4- an effective oxidizing agent in various chemical processes, including water treatment, organic synthesis, and analytical chemistry.
Describe how the intense purple color of MnO4- solutions can be utilized in redox titrations.
The intense purple color of MnO4- solutions makes it a useful indicator in redox titrations. During a titration, the addition of the MnO4- solution can be monitored visually, as the endpoint of the reaction is marked by the persistent purple color. This color change indicates that the reducing agent has been completely oxidized by the MnO4-, allowing for the accurate determination of the concentration of the reducing agent in the solution through quantitative analysis.
Analyze the reduction of MnO4- and explain how it can be used to determine the concentration of reducing agents in a solution.
The reduction of MnO4- can be used to determine the concentration of reducing agents in a solution through quantitative analysis. When MnO4- is reduced, it accepts electrons and is converted to other manganese species with lower oxidation states, such as Mn2+ or MnO2. By monitoring the amount of MnO4- consumed during the reduction reaction, the concentration of the reducing agent can be calculated. This process is commonly used in analytical chemistry to quantify the presence of various reducing agents in a solution, making MnO4- a valuable tool in understanding and analyzing redox chemistry.