Sodium permanganate facts for kids
Sodium permanganate is a special chemical compound. It's made of two main parts: sodium and something called permanganate. Its chemical formula is NaMnO4. This means it has one sodium atom, one manganese atom, and four oxygen atoms.
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What is Sodium Permanganate Like?
Sodium permanganate looks like a purple-black solid. It's made of tiny crystals. When you put it in water, it dissolves easily. It makes the water turn a bright pink color!
This chemical dissolves in water even better than a similar compound called potassium permanganate. However, sodium permanganate is usually more expensive. It also likes to absorb water from the air, which means it can get damp if left out.
Sodium permanganate is a strong oxidizing agent. This means it can take electrons from other chemicals. This ability makes it useful in many reactions.
How Is It Made?
Making sodium permanganate is a bit tricky. It can't be made in the same way as potassium permanganate. This is because a related chemical, sodium manganate, doesn't form easily.
One way to make sodium permanganate is by reacting pure manganese(IV) oxide with sodium hypochlorite. Manganese(IV) oxide is a dark brown powder. Sodium hypochlorite is a chemical found in bleach.
Another way to make it is by reacting potassium permanganate with certain sodium compounds. This process helps swap the potassium for sodium.
What Is It Used For?
Sodium permanganate has a few important uses. One main use is in making circuit boards. These are the green boards with lots of tiny lines and parts that you find inside computers and other electronics. Sodium permanganate helps to clean and prepare these boards during their manufacturing process.
Safety Information
Permanganates, including sodium permanganate, can be harmful if not handled carefully. They are considered toxic, which means they can be poisonous.
Because they are strong oxidizing agents, they can react strongly with things that can burn. It's very important to keep sodium permanganate away from flammable materials. Always handle chemicals like this with proper safety gear and under adult supervision.
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