Acidified oxidising agents (1 Viewer)

PeetAbbott

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Why does potassium permanganate KMnO4 become a better oxidising agent when it is acidified? As opposed to being in water, or a basic solution?
 

CM_Tutor

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Oxidation by permanganate requires the manganese to be reduced. In acidic conditions:

MnO4- + 8 H+ + 5 e- ----> Mn2+ + 4 H2O

In neutral / basic conditions, the product is mangaese(IV) oxide rather than manganese(II) ions:

MnO4- + 2 H2O + 3 e- ----> MnO2 + 4 OH-
 

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