The formula for potassium permanganate is

Options

A. `K_2MnO_4`
B. `KMnO_4`
C. `K_2Mn_2O_4`
D. `KMn_2O_4`

Explanation

To find the formula for potassium permanganate, we will follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the components
Potassium permanganate is composed of potassium (K) and the permanganate ion (MnO4).

### Step 2: Determine the charge of potassium
Potassium (K) is an alkali metal, and it has a valence of +1. This means that it loses one electron to achieve stability, resulting in a charge of +1.

### Step 3: Determine the charge of the permanganate ion
The permanganate ion (MnO4) has a charge of -1. This is important as it will help us balance the charges in the compound.

### Step 4: Combine the charges
Since potassium has a charge of +1 and the permanganate ion has a charge of -1, they will combine in a 1:1 ratio to balance the charges.

### Step 5: Write the formula
Thus, the formula for potassium permanganate is K(MnO4). This can also be written as KMnO4, which is the standard way to represent the compound.

### Final Answer:
The formula for potassium permanganate is **KMnO4**.

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