Question & Answer » Chemistry Questions » What is the Oxidation Number of Manganese (Mn) in Potassium Permanganate(KMnO4)

What is the Oxidation Number of Manganese (Mn) in Potassium Permanganate(KMnO4)

Answer:

One potassium atom, one manganese atom, and four oxygen atoms make up potassium permanganate (KMnO4).

There are two ways for determining an atom’s oxidation number in a molecule or ion, and we’ll use both to determine the oxidation number of KMnO4.

We will use known oxidation numbers in the molecule to find an unknown oxidation number of an atom in the same molecule using the algebra approach.

  • Except for a few molecules, oxygen usually has an oxidation number of (-2). (in peroxide (-1), super oxides (12), and fluoride of oxygen (+2)).
  • Potassium is a metal that belongs to the alkali family. Any alkali metal molecule has an oxidation number of (+1).
  • The chemical KMnO4 is a neutral one. As a result, the molecule has no overall charge. As a result, the total oxidation number of all atoms in KMnO4 equals zero.

Oxidation number of K +4 4 (oxidation number of oxygen) + oxidation number of Mn +=0

Let’s take oxidation number of Manganese atom as x.

+1+4×-2+x=0 

x=+7 

The Oxidation number of manganese in KMnO4 is +7.