Preparation of potassium permanganate from \( \mathrm{MnO_2} \) involves two step process in which the \( 1^{\text{st}} \) step is a reaction with \( \mathrm{KOH} \) and \( \mathrm{KNO_3} \) to produce:
\( \mathrm{K_4[Mn(OH)_6]} \)
\( \mathrm{K_2MnO_4} \)
\( \mathrm{K_3MnO_4} \)
\( \mathrm{KMnO_4} \)