It is closely related to the more commonly encountered potassium permanganate, but it is generally less desirable, because it is more expensive to produce.

Being about 15 times more soluble than KMnO4, sodium permanganate finds some applications where very high concentrations of MnO4− are sought.

Sodium permanganate cannot be prepared analogously to the route to KMnO4 because the required intermediate manganate salt, Na2MnO4, does not form.

It can be prepared by the reaction of manganese dioxide with sodium hypochlorite: Because of its high solubility, its aqueous solutions are used as a drilled hole debris remover and etchant in printed circuitry, with a limited utility though.

[1] It is gaining popularity in water treatment for taste, odor, and zebra mussel control.