Potassium Permanganate

Potassium permanganate, a water solution of potassium permanganate. In histological technique, weak solutions (¹/₁₀-7*%) are used for differentiating brain tissue preparations in Weigert-Pal staining (see Weigert's staining methods). Even weaker solutions are used for decolorizing heavily pigmented preparations (e.g., eyes, chromatophores); they are also used for accelerating the maturation of hematoxylin solutions. Stronger solutions (2%) are used in chemistry for oxidation. Saturated solutions in mixture with sulfuric acid are used for washing laboratory glassware and cleaning slides when preparing blood preparations, followed by treatment with oxalic acid and prolonged washing with running water to remove traces of acid.