Permanganates

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A class of chemical compounds that contain the manganate ion, where manganese is in the +7 oxidation state, commonly used in oxidation reactions
2. Chemical substances characterized by a central manganese atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms, typically employed in analytical chemistry and disinfection
3. Salts formed from permanganic acid, often utilized for their oxidizing properties in various applications in organic and inorganic chemistry

Etymology: "Permanganates" is simply the plural of "permanganate", so the word traces back to the same two parts. The "per-" is a prefix meaning "through" or, in chemistry, "to the highest degree," marking a compound with the maximum oxygen content for its element. "Manganate" names the family of salts built on manganese, the metal whose name comes from the Latin "magnesia," itself linked to the place name Magnesia in ancient Greece. Put together, a permanganate is a manganate pushed to its fullest oxidation. The chemistry follows the naming: the manganese in these salts is in its highest common oxidation state, which is why they are such strong oxidizers and why they show up so often in both laboratory and industrial work.