Is potassium permanganate an oxidizing agent or is the permanganate ion the oxidizing agent?

I have seen both [potassium permanganate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_permanganate#:%7E:text=Potassium%20permanganate%20is%20widely%20used%20in%20chemical%20industry%20and%20laboratories%20as%20a%20strong%20oxidizing%20agent%2C) and the [permanganate ion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanganate#:%7E:text=Because%20the%20manganese%20atom%20is%20in%20the%20%2B7%20oxidation%20state%2C%20the%20permanganate(VII)%20ion%20is%20a%20strong%20oxidizing%20agent.) being called the oxidizing agent. Isn't it more appropriate, however, to call the permanganate ion the oxidizing agent only as the potassium ion doesn't play any role in oxidizing?


Similarly, is potassium dichromate an oxidizing agent or is the dichromate ion the oxidizing agent?




* In the context of substances, $\ce{KMnO4}$ and not $\ce{MnO4-}$ is the oxidizing agent.
* In the context of ions, $\ce{MnO4-}$ and not $\ce{KMnO4}$ is the oxidizing agent.
* In the context of elements changing their oxidation number, $\ce{Mn^{VII}}$ is the oxidizing agent.


So, choose the context.


The same respective contexts are there for the dichromate case.


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