Oxalic acid may trigger the formation of kidney stones, solid masses comprised of small crystals, which cause pain as they travel from your kidneys to your ureter and out through your urine stream. If you routinely handle chemicals such as potassium manganate or consume large quantities of manganese, which may eventually turn into potassium manganate, it may influence the oxalic acid in your body. Consult your physician about the dangers or benefits of this combination.
About Potassium Manganate
Potassium manganate is a compound that is often used as a bleach, antiseptic and disinfectant. This chemical, which is also represented by the formula KMnO4, is a dark purple crystalline solid, and it does not omit an odor. Take care when you handle it because it is poisonous and can be irritating to your skin. It can be especially harmful to men: routine exposure to potassium manganate may negatively influence male fertility.
About Oxalic Acid
Oxalic acid, or ethanedioic acid, is found in a variety of plants, and, like potassium manganate, it is commonly used as a bleach. This colorless, crystalline dicarboxylic acid may also find use a cleansing agent for metals. Oxalic acid, represented by the formula (COOH)2, may cause health problems if handled incorrectly in its chemical form, including respiratory and digestive tract, eye and skin irritation and kidney damage. Your body also produces oxalic acid, and a condition known as hyperoxaluria produces an overabundance of this substance in your body and puts you at greater risk of developing kidney stones.
Potassium Manganate and Oxalic Acid
Potassium manganate may be produced when you consume manganese -- manganese converts to manganic acid, and when it comes in contact with an alkali, it forms potassium manganate. An illness associated with large manganese intake is kidney stone formation. While you may think that intaking large amounds of potassium manganate and oxalic acid may worsen your risk of kidney stones, this may not be the case because when potassium manganate and oxalic acid combine in the presence of acid, the KMnO4 oxidizes (COOH)2. You can see this reaction by dipping rhubarb stalks into an acidified potassium manganate solution -- the oxalic acid in rhubarb reduces the quantity of potassium manganate and changes the color of the solution from purple to clear.
Foods That Contain Oxalic Acid
The reaction that occurs between potassium manganate and oxalic acid can be reproduced with any food that contains high quantities of oxalic acid, not just rhubarb. Other foods high in (COOH)2 include many soy products, star fruit, buckwheat and purslane. Foods that contain lesser amounts of oxalic acid and can contribute to kidney stone formation include spinach, bananas, ginger, almonds and cashews.
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