Video: Oxidation of glycerol by potassium permanganate

This reaction is a spectacular example of a redox reaction. The glycerol is oxidized to carbon dioxide and water (steam) while the permanganate ion is most probably reduced to manganese(III) oxide:

C3H5(OH)3(l) + 3 H2O(l) ® 3 CO2(g) + 14 H+(aq) + 14 e-
2 MnO4-(aq) + 10 H+(aq) + 8 e- ® Mn2O3(s) + 5 H2O(l)

An overall equation, including the fate of the potassium ion, can be written as:

14 KMnO4(s) + 4 C3H5(OH)3(l) ® 7 K2CO3(s) + 7 Mn2O3(s) + 5 CO2(g) + 16 H2O(l)