1.why is potassium permanganate used in the process of distillation of water?

Answer 1

Potassium permanaganate is used to purify water, especially stop organic growth in water stills that are permanantly set up. If a water still is set up for a one time distillation of water then the KMnO4 is not really needed. In the case of a still that is set up permanently, yet used intermittantly it is wise to add something that stops organic growth as the water in the still will turn green and may 'bump' more during distillation. There is a hazard over time to the technician who may come to take the still apart for cleaning from possible legionaires disease (see (Broken Link Removed)