Potassium Permanganate Experiments

Most of us in the Fish Hobby know about the Use of Potassium Permanganate aka PP promoted to treat fish of everything external that might ail them. Its a potent oxidizer and very reactive with organic matter. Doesn't care what it is, bacteria, virus, parasite, plants, gill tissue. Some love it , some like me , Grudging and cautiously respect it when used infrequently as a last resort, or as a sanitizer.

But theres alot more to Potassium Permanganate than just turning aquarium water a pretty pink purple in the hopes it fixes what ever is wrong that day. Its one of the reasons that I really like Potassium Permanganate as an interesting chemical. I have collected a few videos here on the fun but dangerous side of PP. You see , its so reactive and such a good oxidizer that it makes some rather interesting chemical reactions.

MiX PP with glycerine.. Glycerine is a common substance used in all sorts of every day products. Mix the two together and stand back..

http://youtu.be/Op4zKF48P2I?si=w1zAxh2bE_72dp1n



http://youtu.be/ZIAyNFLRFuw?si=zSKAxVAAQrpCcKVv



Mix PP with sugar. Great fire starter. doesn't start immediately but if you mix it and grind a tad to make heat and friction,,

http://youtu.be/5OQT4WcBLQA?si=2_wZyMguHv1ZUbo4

http://youtu.be/8b44LmKAiuc?si=hbNyZdIgBm1yc88x



PP with anti-freeze.. works like glycerine

http://youtu.be/hGXRykfBxg4?si=wlwVk5arj8AIk949


This ones kind of funny..
Potassium Permanganate and Milk

http://youtu.be/oqy0lKlfGR8?si=UNqRrSs9x5gLKJfD




This is one is a dangerous one, but very useful in some cases. Its used to fumigate rooms and labs. It has some relevance to the aquarium as it pertains to the reaction between two common products used by fish hobbyists... Potassium Permanganate and Formalin. Its demonstrates how reactive the two compounds are and why its not a good idea to use them together in a tank.

http://youtu.be/rHQ6Ut3sKoE?si=T4XT0ajfDrQLmw0Z



Finally if you have the time and patience, this scientist is a good watch. Classic mad scientist. The Video is bit slow, but you will learn alot about potassium permanganate

http://youtu.be/qB_6raET0OE?si=CP9dHz93NsfaJA12


Got to love Science!!:)

al

So I have to ask.. how many of you viewing this thread knew about these unusual properties of potassium permanganate? My background was laboratory a long time ago and then got interested in survivalist techniques so i came across this side of PP awhile ago. Im curious if any of you knew Pp could do all this? Or if you only know it from fish tanks use?

I knew about them, except the disinfecting rooms. It is actually dangerous stuff. Don't get any dry powdered PP on your skin.

I knew that it could make fire, but didn't know the recpie. I know that it can be used to purify water of organics. And I know that it can kill external parasites on Discus.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brewmaster15

So I have to ask.. how many of you viewing this thread knew about these unusual properties of potassium permanganate? My background was laboratory a long time ago and then got interested in survivalist techniques so i came across this side of PP awhile ago. Im curious if any of you knew Pp could do all this? Or if you only know it from fish tanks use?

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I am a chemical engineer and I had NO clue of all the fun experiments you can do.
I would love to show my kids, but it is a double edge sword for sure. SO, I won’t even floar the idea to my wife

Quote:

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Originally Posted by For100

I am a chemical engineer and I had NO clue of all the fun experiments you can do.
I would love to show my kids, but it is a double edge sword for sure. SO, I won’t even floar the idea to my wife

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I can see where that could be a double edged sword. I think it depends on how old your kids are and how responsible they are. I know if I was a kid and learned about this stuff it would be not so great... not that I didnt experiment with way too many other cool and dangerous things.If I showed this to my kids I have no doubt I could trust them. Those apples didnt just fall far from the tree..they rolled downhill, into a river, and floated out to sea.

Al

I didn't know PP could do "all this". Holy Smokes....
Pat

I knew it could do some of those things but not all of those things, pretty damn interesting.

Al do you mind if I post this on Facebook sites? Just the other day this guy has a cross contamination and first he added pp to the tank and next he was doing daily pp dips on his fish. Just insane how many people have no clue what potassium permangante even is. This thread would be an eye opener.

Go for it Tom.. I dont mind.

For all of you to have a good laugh….

Came across this thread a couple of days ago. I decided to show it to my 13 year old boy. First thing he said….. do you have any PP? I asked why….. his answer: I can setup a pay preview show in the backyard, can I? Rest my case, this knowledge can be DANGEROUS in the wrong ��.

Lol..you have quite the entrepreneur there!
Al