A salt of permanganic acid. Formerly used in efforts (probably unsuccessful) to oxidize and thus detoxify alkaloidal poisons.
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per·man·ga·nate (.)pər-'maŋ-gə-.nāt n
2) the anion MnO4- of a permanganate
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per·man·ga·nate (pər-mangґgə-nāt) the MnO4− anion, which has a deep purple color in aqueous solution and is a strong oxidizing agent, or a salt containing this ion.Medical dictionary. 2011.