Reaction Between Conc Sulfuric Acid and Potassium Permanganate

Hi, here is an interesting video on the reaction of Conc sulfuric acid and potassium permanganate. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm2Q_UCCMoU&feature=email

Conc sulfuric acid is added into a boiling tube (please hold the tube with a retort stand instead of your hand as the reaction can be quite explosive so please handle it with care) followed by a layer of 95% denatured ethanol on it. Then use a forcep to add it some potassium permanganate (add abit will do, do not add a spatula of it as the reaction may be too vigorous and cause explosion.

Once the permanganate dissolved in the sulfuric acid, you will be able to see spark appearing in the layer of ethanol. So what is the theory behind it that causes these reaction?

Concentrated sulfuric acid reacts with KMnO₄ to give Mn₂O₇, which can be explosive. This reaction also produce some ozone which has a high oxidising power which oxidises the ethanol causing it to combust. Therefore together with the explosive Mn₂O₇, it create spark inside the boiling tube.


You can also try to soak a filter paper with ethanol and over a beaker of conc sulfuric acid and KMnO₄ the ozone created can also oxidises the ethanol in the paper and cause it to combust.