What is #MnO_4#?

1 Answer
anor277
May 2, 2016

I think you mean #MnO_4^(-)#, #"permanganate ion"#. Potassium permanganate is an actual compound I could put in a bottle. #MnO_4# is unknown.

Explanation:

Manganese has rich oxygen chemistry, but its maximum oxidation number is #VII^+# (which it expresses in permanganate). #MnO_4# would require an oxidation number of #VIII^+#, which is unknown.

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