Question 3

In neutral or faintly alkaline solutions, permanganate ion ($MnO_4^-$) acts as an oxidizing agent and is reduced to manganese dioxide ($MnO_2$). It oxidizes iodide ion ($I^-$) to iodate ion ($IO_3^-$). The balanced chemical equation is: $2MnO_4^- + H_2O + I^- \rightarrow 2MnO_2 + 2OH^- + IO_3^-$ In acidic medium, $I^-$ would be oxidized to $I_2$, but in neutral medium, the product is $IO_3^-$.