Hello.
I have read often about the multiple utilities of the potassium permanganate and the importance of carry these crystals in a survival kit:

The different uses that I know are:
1 – As water purifier
2 – As antiseptic
3 – As fungicide (for some feet affections)

And one more particularity: As tinder to initiate a fire:

A - Mixed with glycerine (that can be obtained from antifreeze fluid of the cars or included on some shaving creams)

B - Mixed with sugar (a spark is enough for ignite like gunpowder)


Can someone say to me (in a most exact way) which are the proportions of permanganate used for every use?

Is very important the proportion that must be used as water purifier, because it is something for drinking and I suppose that an excessive quantity can be harmful to the organism.

Thank you very much.

No idea. But I remember playing with this stuff in chem lab. Fun. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Make a little pile of it, a few drops of glycerine, wait a few seconds.... *fwoosh*.

Where can a person get some potassium permangenate nowadays? Is it still available to individuals without a license?

Than you very much for your answer.
I have a video clip where the reaction is shown. You you can find it at http://faraday.physics.uiowa.edu/chem/10A10.50.htm (labeled as "MPEG Movie (8.62 MB)"

In Spain (my country) is possible to find the potassium permanganate at chemical products store. I'd try to find it at the pharmacies but, although they ususally work with this component, they are not authorized to deal it.

There's been some discussion of this in the past, and I think it's been concluded that the stuff is vastly overrated. Do a search on it here, make sure you specify "all posts" instead of just "last week".

Thank you.

I've read a lot of threads before posting my question, but I ask again about the same idea because anyone of the texts that I've read shows specifications about the used proportions of permanganate (or they do, but I've read the wrong threads).
<img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Hi,

It seems to work in the lab but would it work pragmatically in wet environments when it's raining and or it's cold and windy with snow? Would it be a hazard? Of course if your life is at stake in the first place you want to try everything so I guess it's good to know. It looks a little bit like a MacGyver trick.

Thanks
Frankie

I easily found it in drugstores, sold in boxes containing 10 or so small paper pockets.

I can only comment on the pyrotechnic capabilities. I... have a friend, yeah, a friend, who played with the stuff a little when he was younger.

Mix 1:1 with the finest sugar you have, even if you have to put a hard candy between a rock and a hard place a few times. Mix it quickly, and throughly. Add a spark, like from a sparklite. Move your fingers quickly.

For drinking water: maybe one crystal per tumbler of water. It should make the water "just pink".

For antiseptic, enough should be added to make a bright pink colour.

For antifungal, a deep red colour, like red wine.

For you pyro's out there, mix 1:1 with table sugar on a flat hard surface and crush/mash with the back of a metal spoon. See the pretty lights and smoke!

Thank you, Bones.
<img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />