Potassium permanganate?

According to Wikipedia, it might be available at a swimming pool supply store.

Just a search on Google turned up some sites that will sell it to you.

Just wondering, what are your plans with the potassium permanganate?

Self lighting candle effect.

A Pharmacy might let you have some, but the last time I tried to get some, was told that it was highly poisionous and the pharmacist was very reluctant to give me any! (Nobody told me that when I used to play with the stuff as a kid!) (He did give me a little though!) - Needed it for much the same thing... self lighting cigarette.

Jeesh, we all used to play with mercury as kids and now we can't be trusted with a little potassium, what's up with that ????

You can alway buy it off of eBay. . . You could at least look at the brand names for the stuff and go to a store that sells pond supplies. It has been used in fish ponds to treat common fish pathogens such as gill parasites and external bacterial and fungal infections. . .


Potassium? You can still buy potassium metal.

Tim

Do you have any of the brand names of the stuff or the pond products you described ?

Potassium permanganate is used in home water treatment systems to remove the rotten egg smell usually associated with high manganese/iron content in water. It can be found at some bigger home improvement stores. It is purchased by the dry gallon and runs about $25 US per container. Internet shipments are possible but shipping is restricted to ground only.

I thought the rotten egg smell was caused by sulphur.

It is, it's the KmnO4, potassium permanganate that reacts to fix the sulfur and remove it.

I don't see why you couldn't get it.

I have tried combining potassium permanganate and glycerine on a candlewick. It did absolutely nothing. Until someone can tell me what I might be doing wrong, save your money. I am wondering if it should be mixed with glycerol, not glycerine. I'd love to hear from anyone who has had luck with this combination.

This stuff was banned from over the counter sales, except in forms that contained patroleum jelly, because it was used by people to set fires, self-abort, and make illicit drugs. I called the FDA and some other government agencies about this a long time ago.

Here is the Material Safety Data Sheet. Read it carefully before you go any further.

POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE - POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE,ACS.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
NSN: 6810002229665
Part No. Indicator: A
Part Number/Trade Name: POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE

===========================================================================
General Information
===========================================================================

Item Name: POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE,ACS.
Safety Data Action Code: A
Record No. For Safety Entry: 001
Tot Safety Entries This Stk#: 012 *
Status: SE
Date MSDS Prepared: 23JUN92
Safety Data Review Date: 19AUG98
Supply Item Manager: CX
MSDS Serial Number: CHQGY
Specification Number: O-C-265
Spec Type, Grade, Class: NONE
Hazard Characteristic Code: J3
Unit Of Issue: BT
Unit Of Issue Container Qty: 500 GRAMS
Type Of Container: BOTTLE
Net Unit Weight: UNKNOWN

===========================================================================
Ingredients/Identity Information
===========================================================================

Proprietary: NO
Ingredient: POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE (SARA III)
Ingredient Sequence Number: 01
Percent: 100
Ingredient Action Code: A
NIOSH (RTECS) Number: SD6475000
CAS Number: 7722-64-7
OSHA PEL: 5 MG MN/M3;CEILING
ACGIH TLV: 5 MG MN/M3; 9192
Other Recommended Limit: NONE SPECIFIED

===========================================================================
Physical/Chemical Characteristics
===========================================================================

Appearance And Odor: DARK PURPLE OR BRONZE-LIKE CRYSTALS, WITH A BLUE
METALLIC LUSTER & SWEET TASTE.
Boiling Point: UNKNOWN
Melting Point: 464F,240C
Vapor Pressure (MM Hg/70 F): UNKNOWN
Vapor Density (Air=1): UNKNOWN
Specific Gravity: 2.703
Decomposition Temperature: UNKNOWN
Evaporation Rate And Ref: UNKNOWN
Solubility In Water: 6.4%
Viscosity: NOT APPLICABE
pH: UNKNON
Corrosion Rate (IPY): UNKNOWN

===========================================================================
Fire and Explosion Hazard Data
===========================================================================

Flash Point: NOT FLAMMABLE
Upper Explosive Limit: N/A
Extinguishing Media: WATER ONLY, NO DRY CHEMICAL, CARBON DIOXIDE OR HALON.
Special Fire Fighting Proc: MOVE CONTAINER FROM FIRE AREA IF YOU CAN DO IT
WITHOUT RISK. APPLY COOLING WATER TO SIDES OF CONTAINERS EXPOSED TO FLAMES
UNTIL WELL AFTER FIRE IS OUT.
Unusual Fire And Expl Hazrds: OXIDIZERS DECOMPOSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN HEATED,
TO YIELD OXYGEN OR OTHER GASES WHICH WILL INCREASE THE BURNING RATE OF
COMBUSTIBLE MATTER.

===========================================================================
Reactivity Data
===========================================================================

Stability: YES
Cond To Avoid (Stability): HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.
Materials To Avoid: ALCOHOLS, ACIDS, PEROXIDES, OXALATES, SULFITES,
ORGANIC SUBSTANCE
Hazardous Decomp Products: MAY INCLUDE TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS OXIDES OF
POTASSIUM AND MANGANESE.
Hazardous Poly Occur: NO
Conditions To Avoid (Poly): NOT RELEVANT

===========================================================================
Health Hazard Data
===========================================================================

LD50-LC50 Mixture: LD50, RAT, (ORAL) 1090 MG/KG
Route Of Entry - Inhalation: YES
Route Of Entry - Skin: YES
Route Of Entry - Ingestion: YES
Health Haz Acute And Chronic: EYES (ACUTE): CONTACT WITH SOLID MAY CAUSE
BURNS WITH REDNESS, PAIN, LACRIMATION AND BLURRED VISION. SKIN:
SOLID MAY CAUSE SEVERE BURNS WITH REDNESS AND PAIN. INHALATION: MAY CAUSE
SEVERE MAY CAUSE INFLAMMATION AND CORROSION OF THE GI TRACT.
Carcinogenicity - NTP: NO
Carcinogenicity - IARC: NO
Carcinogenicity - OSHA: NO
Explanation Carcinogenicity: NONE
Signs/Symptoms Of Overexp: EYES: CONJUNCTIVITIS, TURBIDITY AND BROWN
EROSION OF THE TEETH, ULCERATIVE CHANGES IN THE MOUTH, BRONCHIAL AND
GASTROINTESTINAL DISTURBANCES. INGESTION: NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIFFICULTY
SPEAKING OR SWALLOWING, BLACK STOOL.
Med Cond Aggravated By Exp: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.
Emergency/First Aid Proc: EYES: WASH EYES IMMEDIATELY WITH LARGE AMOUNTS
OF WATERD. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. SKIN: WASH AFFECTED AREA WITH
SOAP OR MILD DETERGENT AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION
IMMEDIATELY. INHALATION: REMOVE FROM EXPOSED AREA TO FRESH AIR. GET MEDICAL
ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. INGESTION: DO NOT USE GASTRIC LAVAGE OR EMESIS.
DRINK WATER. GET MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.

===========================================================================
Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
===========================================================================

Steps If Matl Released/Spill: SOIL SPILL: DIG A PIT, POND OR HOLDING AREA
TO CONTAIN LIQUID OR SOLID MATERIAL.COVER SOLIDS WITH A PLASTIC SHEET TO
PREVENT DISSOLVING IN RAIN OR FIRE FIGHTING WATER. WATER SPILL: NEUTRALIZE
WITH CAUSTIC SODA.
Neutralizing Agent: SODIUM BISULFITE.
Waste Disposal Method: OBSERVE ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS
WHEN STORING OR DISPOSING OF THIS SUBSTANCE. FOR ASSISTANCE, CONTACT THE
DISTRICT DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
Precautions-Handling/Storing: PROTECT AGAINST PHYSICAL DAMAGE. SEPARATE
FROM SULFURIC ACID, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, AND ALL COMBUSTIBLE, ORGANIC OR
READILY OXIDIZABLE MATERIALS.
Other Precautions: AVOID CONTACT WITH COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS (WOOD, PAPER,
FUEL, OILS); IGNITION OR EXPLOSION MAY RESULT. AVOID CONTAMINATION OF WATER
SOURCES.

===========================================================================
Control Measures
===========================================================================

Respiratory Protection: THE SPECIFIC RESPIRATOR SELECTED MUST BE BASED ON
CONTAMINATION LEVELS FOUND OR EXPECTED IN THE WORK PLACE. THE RESPIRATOR
MUST BE JOINTLY APPROVED BY NIOSH/HSHA.
Ventilation: PROVIDE MECHAN(GEN/LOCAL EXHAUST)VENT TO MAINTN <TLV
Protective Gloves: IMPERVIOUS
Eye Protection: SPLASH-PROOF OR DUST RESISTANT GOGGLES
Other Protective Equipment: EYE WASH FOUNTAIN AND QUICK DRENCH SHOWER IN
WORK AREA.
Work Hygienic Practices: KEEP AREA CLEAN. WASH THOROGHLY AFTER EACH USE OR
HANDLING. AVOID CONTACT.
Suppl. Safety & Health Data: NONE

===========================================================================
Transportation Data
===========================================================================

Transportation Action Code: A
Trans Data Review Date: 98231
DOT PSN Code: MAU
DOT Proper Shipping Name: POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE
DOT Class: 5.1
DOT ID Number: UN1490
DOT Pack Group: II
DOT Label: OXIDIZER
IMO PSN Code: MFN
IMO Proper Shipping Name: POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE
IMO Regulations Page Number: 5173
IMO UN Number: 1490
IMO UN Class: 5.1
IMO Subsidiary Risk Label: -
IATA PSN Code: URW
IATA UN ID Number: 1490
IATA Proper Shipping Name: POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE
IATA UN Class: 5.1
IATA Label: OXIDIZER
AFI PSN Code: URW
AFI Prop. Shipping Name: POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE
AFI Class: 5.1
AFI ID Number: UN1490
AFI Pack Group: II
AFI Special Prov: P5
AFI Basic Pac Ref: A9.8

===========================================================================
Disposal Data
===========================================================================

===========================================================================
Label Data
===========================================================================

Label Required: YES
Technical Review Date: 19AUG98
MFR Label Number: NONE
Label Status: F
Common Name: POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE
Chronic Hazard: YES
Signal Word: WARNING!
Acute Health Hazard-Moderate: X
Contact Hazard-Slight: X
Fire Hazard-None: X
Reactivity Hazard-None: X
Special Hazard Precautions: EYES (ACUTE): CONTACT WITH SOLID MAY CAUSE
BURNS WITH REDNESS, PAIN, LACRIMATION AND BLURRED VISION. SKIN:
SOLID MAY CAUSE SEVERE BURNS WITH REDNESS AND PAIN. INHALATION: MAY CAUSE
SEVERE MAY CAUSE INFLAMMATION AND CORROSION OF THE GI TRACT. PROTECT
AGAINST PHYSICAL DAMAGE. SEPARATE FROM SULFURIC ACID, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE,
AND ALL COMBUSTIBLE, ORGANIC OR READILY OXIDIZABLE MATERIALS. TARGET
ORGANS: EYES, SKIN, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM, KIDNEYS.
Protect Eye: Y
Protect Skin: Y
Protect Respiratory: Y

Posted: Jul 12, 2009 3:50pm
Pay particularly close attention to what to use to put out fires.

You are lucky that it didn't work for you, especially if you tried it indoors. It would melt your candle and cause a fire.