potassium permanganate

[faff]

just wondering who keeps this in a first aid kit.I do and also the first aid kit for all my animals.some facts about it that could be usefull.
KMnO4 is often included in survival kits along with either glycerine or a glucose tablet for the purposes of making fire. The glucose tablet can be ground up, mixed with the potassium permanganate and caused to combust by applying friction. It can also be mixed with anti-freeze from a vehicle to produce flame, although this can be dangerous and should be done in a controlled manner ie dipping some paper into the anti-freeze and then adding a small amount of potassium permanganate. The ability to sterilise water and wounds is another reason for inclusion in a survival kit

 

[ArkAngel]

I have some crystals in my emergency baccy tin

I have the liquid in my FAK as i can't find a local source for the crystals.

Good stuff, firelighting, makes water safer to drink, antiseptic wash. The sort of thing i love for bushcraft, 1 item....multiple uses

 

[Scuba Pete]

If you have the liquid just evaporate off the water to get the crystals. Put it in a shallow dish and let the water evaporate, you will have crystals in no time. Although probably not many, lol.

 

[addyb]

I've read about it in Lofty Wiseman's SAS "Bible" but I've never actually seen the stuff, nor do I know where to get it. If I could find it in town, I'd definately put a bit of it in my pocket survival kit.

Adam

 

[Nigel]

Try Boots the Chemist.

 

[anthonyyy]

KMnO4 has some illegal uses, I'd immagine it might be hard to get nowadays.

 

[dwardo]

I have so far tried 3 chemists and all have said they are no long able to get PP.

 

[Gailainne]

Potassium Permanganate

Hyperdrug sell it by 0.5kg first two googled

Stephen

 

[Mikey P]

KMnO4 has some illegal uses, I'd immagine it might be hard to get nowadays.

We use to make a very c**p contact explosive out of it at school. You'd put it between the pages of someones book and, when they closed it, there would be a 'bang' and a big brown stain. Oh, we were so funny...

 

[deezee_uk]

I tend to stick to normal (tablet) water sterilisation methods, just because you don't have to muck about with measuring the stuff out. I use a firestick, or lord forbid, a lighter !!!!

Hey lets not forget its more exciting uses, such as when combined with poorly combusted natural gas by product (formaldehyde), it makes a gas that irritats the respiratory system (tear gas)

Ahhh Wikpedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_permanganate

 

[dwardo]

I should have looked further but by the way the chemist`s sucked air in when i asked i thaught i wouldent bother....

SuperDrug ????? who whouild of believed it thanks

 

[fred gordon]

KMnO4 has some illegal uses, I'd immagine it might be hard to get nowadays.

I got some recently from one of the guys on a forest school course. He said you have to go to the larger, possibly industrial chemists, for it. Also try laboratory chemical suppliers.

 

[faff]

well the best use for it is to treat an open wound but the versatility of it is cool

 

[faff]

I got some recently from one of the guys on a forest school course. He said you have to go to the larger, possibly industrial chemists, for it. Also try laboratory chemical suppliers.

or some vets

 

[mark wood]

Good old SWAT magazine in the eighties had an article from a chemist discussing the sterilising properties of PP. It's very unreliable - much organic stuff in the water and seems pretty useless.

Mark

 

[Toddy]

Good old SWAT magazine in the eighties had an article from a chemist discussing the sterilising properties of PP. It's very unreliable - much organic stuff in the water and seems pretty useless.

Mark

Good point, though garden suppliers sell it for sterilising water butts mine's full of things, including newts
Pot. perm. is also incredibly messy, probably why it's sometimes recommended for writing sos in snow.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[fred gordon]

I remember going to a party a few years ago and some person under the influence put some PP into the cystern of the loo. Some poor person let out a scream when she flushed the loo as she thought she was part of some Physco drama.

 

[sharp88]

if you grind it with sugar it makes a flame...also if you pour anti-freeze on it

 

[Spacemonkey]

Hey lets not forget its more exciting uses, such as when combined with poorly combusted natural gas by product (formaldehyde), it makes a gas that irritats the respiratory system (tear gas)

Ahhh Wikpedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_permanganate

Working with formaldehyde every day I can assure you that you don't need to add anything to it to make you cry and have breathing difficulties!

 

[Scuba Pete]

It does stain your hands if you are not careful. Even the smallest crystal can turn alot of water deep purple. Great colour.

We make chlorine gas with it, by adding concentrated Hydrochloric acid to it. So becareful what you are mixing it with, you don't want to poison yourself.