What will happen if a person drank a solution of Potassium permangnate (KMnO4) in water?

So they would probably be poisoned and die? :O thanks :)

Well I cetainly didn’t say that they would “… probably …” die. Merely that it is “… potentially …” fatal. Actually, it is highly unlikely that they would die unless they were deliberately trying to kill themselves by drinking a significant amount at very high concentrations. The following link is to an abstract of an article entitled “ Potassium permanganate poisoning–a rare cause of fatal self poisoning. “: http://funadvice.com/r/15kcfjqf5sp .

. Also, I quote the following: . “… Potassium permanganate is so widely used and readily obtained that its toxic properties are easily overlooked. In England fatal cases of poisoning are fortunately rare, but not a few cases, some fatal, have been reported from the Continent. Popper’ has recorded twenty-six authenticated cases of poisoning, the majority among women suïcïdes. Starkenstein reported a single case in which death occurred from complications, while Leschke mentions two cases, in one of which death occurred from syncope following the ingestion of a dose of 15 to 20 grams of the pure crystals. Three cases are recorded in English toxicological literature, including the non-fatal case of Hawthorne, where apparently 22 grains (1.43 grams) were ingested as pills. In yet another case 15 to 20 grams of permanganate dissolved in water were taken; heart symptoms developed, but recovery followed treatment by gastric lavage and the administration of a cardiac tonic. In Cyprus at least one case of attempted suïcïde, by a European woman, occurred in 1933, although there were probably others unknown to the authorities. In this case a strong solution of potassium permanganate was taken in unknown amount. The patient showed the usual symptoms of this type of poisoning, but after four days’ treatment in hospital made a complete and uneventful recovery. In all these cases the poison was taken by the mouth, either in the form of pills, crystals, or a concentrated solution, but the fatal dose, which presumably must be large, is not known. After ingestion the poison attacks particularly the heart, the circulation, and the central nervous system. The signs and symptoms of acute potassium permanganate poisoning have been well described in vivo and post mortem, so that little need be said here. It is interesting to note, however, that in severe cases, such as that of Box, the destruction of tissue was so extensive as to suggest an alkali corrosive. Nevertheless, the burns produced by potassium permanganate and their sequelae show important differences from those of the caustic alkalis which were recently described by one of us.

Medicinal Uses of Permanganate: Potassium permanganate is the only official salt of manganese, the B.P. dose of which is 1 to 3 grains (0.06 to 0.2 gram), and it is not included in any schedule of poisons. By reason of its oxidizing action in acid or alkaline solution it is valued for its disinfectant, deodorant, and germicidal properties. In dilute solution it is a safe internal as well as external disinfectant, as is shown by its being utilized for washing out the stomach in cases of poisoning by alkaloids (especially morphine and opium) and by cyanides. In the solid state it is an effective local remedy in all kinds of snakebite, if applied immediately its use in very dilute solution as a gargle, mouth wash, and for vagïnal injection, and in stronger concentration for urethral irrigation in gonorrhoea, is well-accepted practice. In the lastnamed condition, according to Burke, irrigation with permanganate of no definite strength was practised during the war, since the urethra gradually acquires toleration to it. Here the time factor and the concentration are evidently the most important considerations. Potassium permanganate also possesses anaesthetic action on the genito-urinary mucous membranes, and solutions of 1 in 5,000 have been employed for producing transitory anaesthesia of the urethra, thereby allowing the painless passage of sounds.

Toxic Actions: Although one of the safest disinfectants when used in proper strength, it is easy to overlook the fact that potassium permanganate possesses a definite though low toxicity. Even dilute solutions may cause irritation to the stomach, while concentrated solutions inflame the mucous membrane, and mnay even induce gastro-enteritis (Dixon).8 It is also within our experience that, following a vagïnal injection of a strong solution of permanganate in error, abortïon has resulted in early pregnancy. Other experiences have shown that, ‘although not a corrosive, potassium permanganate, as a solid or in-concentrated solution acts as a severe irritant. The toxic effects of potash salts on the heart muscle and the central nervous system have been ascribed by pharmacologists to the K ion, and this would seem to be the case with potassium permanganate. …” . … from an article entitled “ POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE POISONING “, written by Stanley G. Willimott, Ph.D.Cantab., B.Sc. Ph.D.Liverp. and Mark Freidman, M.D., and published in the British Medical Journal in 1936. . The full article (including references) is available in .pdf format from: . http://funadvice.com/r/15kcg72ffcl .

– Best wishes - Majikthise. .

One of the many uses is to disinfect drinking water. It will not harm animal or plant life as long as it is diluted correctly.