Manganese
![A rough fragment of lustrous silvery metal](/Images/godic/202501/25/Mangan_1-crop1716.jpg")
![Electrolytically refined manganese chips and 1 cm3 cube](/Images/godic/202501/25/Manganese_electrolytic_and_1cm3_cube1716.jpg")
![Manganese(II) chloride crystals – the pale pink color of Mn(II) salts is due to a spin-forbidden 3d transition.[7]](/Images/godic/202501/25/Chlorid_manganatý1716.JPG")
![Aqueous solution of KMnO4 illustrating the deep purple of Mn(VII) as it occurs in permanganate](/Images/godic/202501/25/KMnO4_in_H2O1716.jpg")
Manganese is a chemical element with symbol Mn and atomic number 25. It is not found as a free element in nature; it is often found in combination with iron, and in many minerals. Manganese is a metal with important industrial metal alloy uses, particularly in stainless steels.