[furaniki18]

acidic/alkaline KMnO4 is used to oxidize alkanes, alkenes, alcohols...basically many functional groups in organic chemistry.
i am a high school student and i am just mixing one reaction with the other...
could anybody help me  understand the mechanism of action of KMnO4 in acidic or alkaline medium and so, simplify things? thanks in advance...

[discodermolide]

acidic/alkaline KMnO4 is used to oxidize alkanes, alkenes, alcohols...basically many functional groups in organic chemistry.
i am a high school student and i am just mixing one reaction with the other...
could anybody help me  understand the mechanism of action of KMnO4 in acidic or alkaline medium and so, simplify things? thanks in advance...

Just mixing can be dangerous, be careful.
Look at this page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_permanganate