Explain the oxidising property of `KMnO_(4)` in alkaline medium .

Explanation

In alkaline medium :
(i) In the presence of alkali metal hydroxides.
the permanganate ion is converted into manganate .
This manganate is further raduced to `MnO_(2) ` by some reducing agents .
`MnO_(4)^(2-) + H_(20 O to MnO_(2) + 2OH ^(-) + [O]`
(iii) So the overall reaction can be written as follows .
`MnO_(4) + 2H_(2) O + 3e^(-) to MnO_(2) + 4OH^(-)`
This reaction is similar as that for neutral medium .