Variation of the Thermal Stability of KMnO4 During Adsorption of Water Vapor in an Electric Field.

Adsorption of water molecules on KMnO//4 begins with weak chemisorption on active centers of the crystals, and then sections of the surface between the occupied active centers are filled by physically adsorbed water molecules. The active centers of water adsorption on KMnO//4 are obviously OH//3** plus -groups localized at nodes instead of K** plus ions. The use of a constant electric field during the adsorption of water on KMnO//4 increases the thermal stability of the permanganate by a factor of 1. 5 to 1. 7, which is apparently related to the formation of an ordered water film during the adsorption of water in an electric field. The mechanism of increase in the thermal stability of KMnO//4 during the adsorption of water in a constant electric field is discussed.