Question

Is potassium permanganate a disinfectant?

Answer 1

Potassium permanganate is an inorganic compound that is made up of potassium, manganese, and oxygen. Its formula is $KMn{{O}_{4}}$. In many places, it is used to wash fruits and vegetables and it was successful in extracting the species like Salmonella and Aeromonas which are infectious microbes.

Complete step-by-step answer: Potassium permanganate is an inorganic compound that is made up of potassium, manganese, and oxygen. Its formula is $KMn{{O}_{4}}$. Its molecular mass is 158.034 g /mol. In solid form, it is purplish-bronze-grey needles, while in the solution forms its color is magenta-rose. It is an odorless compound and when dissolved in water it produces a very dark color.
There was an experiment performed in which vegetables, fruits, flowers, leaves, etc which contain pathogens like Salmonella and Aeromonas were washed with 0.1% potassium permanganate solution, especially from the coriander leaves. It was found that these microbes or pathogens extracted from the leaves for the first time were washed with $KMn{{O}_{4}}$ solution and it is more effective than the sterile water.
Another property of potassium permanganate is its strong oxidizing agent. It also has disinfectant properties. When we make a solution of 1-5% potassium permanganate solution, then it is regarded as a disinfectant. Before the hypochlorites, $KMn{{O}_{4}}$ was used to disinfectant the drinking water. In the market, it is even sold in packets of 1 g to be added in 1 L of water.

So, yes potassium permanganate is a disinfectant.

Note: It is also used for treating some infections like foot fungal infections, impetigo, wounds, dermatitis, tropical ulcers, etc. It is used as an oxidizing agent in many types of titrations.