Potassium permanganate is a self indicator what does it means

When we refer to potassium permanganate as a self-indicator, it means that the compound itself can serve as an indicator in a chemical reaction or experiment.

An indicator is a substance that changes color in the presence of certain conditions, such as changes in pH or the presence of specific chemicals. It is used to detect the endpoint of a reaction or indicate the presence of a specific substance.

In the case of potassium permanganate, it has a characteristic deep purple color. When it is exposed to certain chemicals or conditions, the color of potassium permanganate changes. For example, in a redox reaction, where there is a transfer of electrons between substances, potassium permanganate can be used to indicate the endpoint of the reaction.

As potassium permanganate reacts, it gets reduced to colorless manganese ions, resulting in a color change from purple to colorless. This color change can be used to determine the endpoint of a reaction, signaling that the reaction is complete or that a specific substance has been consumed.

So, the self-indicating property of potassium permanganate means that it can be used as a visual indicator of changes in a chemical reaction without requiring the addition of other substances to provide color changes.