Question

What happens when KMnO₄ is treated with an acidified solution of oxalic acid?

Answer 1

When KMnO₄ is treated with acidified oxalic acid, it gets reduced to Mn²⁺, while oxalic acid is oxidised to carbon dioxide, with the pink colour fading and effervescence of CO₂ observed.

\[\ce{2MnO^-_4 + 5H2C2O4 + 6H+ -> 2Mn^{2+} + 10CO2 + 8H2O}\]