Autocatalysis: Reaction of Permanganate with Oxalic Acid Still Images A dilute purple solution of potassium permanganate is added to each of two beakers of acidified oxalate solution. A few crystals of manganese(II) sulfate added to the solution on the right catalyze the reduction of permanganate to colorless manganese(II) ion. Note the initial red color due to formation of a manganese(III) intermediate in the beaker on the right. The other solution reacts more slowly, but its reaction rate eventually increases as it forms manganese(II) ion, which subsequently autocatalyzes its own formation. You can get at large JPEG versions of the images by means of the following links. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Back to the topic
A dilute purple solution of potassium permanganate is added to each of two beakers of acidified oxalate solution. A few crystals of manganese(II) sulfate added to the solution on the right catalyze the reduction of permanganate to colorless manganese(II) ion. Note the initial red color due to formation of a manganese(III) intermediate in the beaker on the right.
The other solution reacts more slowly, but its reaction rate eventually increases as it forms manganese(II) ion, which subsequently autocatalyzes its own formation.
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© 1999 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.
