INTRODUCTION TO ALUM

Potassium alum, potash alum or potassium aluminium sulphate is chemical

compound the potassium double sulphate of aluminium. Its chemical formula
[KAl(SO4)] and it is commonly found in its dodecahydrate form as [KAI(SO4)].

USES

Alum is the common name for this chemical compound, given the
nomenclature of potassium aluminium sulphate dodecahydrate. It is
commonly used in water purification leather tanning, dying, fire proof
textile, and baking powder and also used at saloons.
 ADVANTAGE OF ALUM
1. Alum for eye absess.
2. Alum for foot and crack heels.
3. Alum for water purification.
4. Alum for shaving.
5. Alum as deodorant for body odor.
6. Alum and rose water for hair removal.
7. Alum for skin tightening and skin whitening.
8. Alum for pimples, acne and acne scars.
9. Alum site bath for piles.
10.Alum for canker sores, teeth whitening and bleeding gums.

DISADVANTGE OF ALUM

Alum in deodorant may be absorbed through the skin into the

bloodstream. Although it is deemed safe enough for this purpose by
the food and drug administration, there may be negative health
consequences from continued exposure to the aluminium ions in the
alum.
 PREPRATION OF AN ALUM FROM SCRAP
ALUMINIUM
AIM
To prepare potash alum from scrap aluminium.

MATERIAL REQUIRED
1. 250ml conical flask 2.
2. Funnel .
3. Scrap aluminium piece.
4. KOH, 6M H2SO4.
THEORY
Aluminium metal is treated with hot aqueous KOH solution.
Aluminium dissolved as potassium aluminate, KAI(OH)4, salt .

2AL(s) + 2KOH(aq) + 6H2O(l) 2KAI(OH)4(aq) +3H2

Potassium aluminate solution on treatment with dil. Sulphuric

acid first gives ppt. of AL(OH)3, which dissolved on addition of
small excess of H2SO4 and heting.

2KAI(OH)4(aq) + H2SO4(aq) 2AL(OH)3(s) + K2SO4(aq) +

2H2O(l)
2AL(OH)3(aq) + 3H2S04(aq) AL2(SO4)3(aq) + 6H20(l)
 The results solution is concentrated to near saturated and
cooled. On cooling crystals of potash alum crystallizes out.
K2SO4(aq) + AL2(SO4)3(aq) + 24H2O(l) K2SO4. AL(SO4)3.
24H20(s)

PROCEDURE
1. Clean a small piece of scrap aluminium with steel wool and cut
it into very small pieces.
2. Put the small piece of aluminium (1g) into conical flask and
added about 50ml of KOH solution to dissolved the aluminium .
The flask may be heated gently in order to facilitate dissolved.
Since during this step hydrogen gas is evolved this step must be
done in a well-ventilated area. Continue heating until all the
aluminium melts and react. Filterv the solution to remove any
insoluble impurities and reduce the volume to about 25ml by
heating.
3. Allow the filtrate to cool. Now add slowly 6M H2SO4 until
insoluble [AL(OH)3] just forms in the solution .
4. Gently heat the mixture until the [AL(OH)3] ppt. dissolved. Cool
the resulting solution in ice bath for 30min whereby alum
crystals should separate out . For better results the solution
may be left overnight for the crystallisation to continue. In case
the crystals do not form the solution may be further
concentrated and cooled again.
 5. Filter the crystal from the solution using vacuum pump, wash
the crystals with 50/50 ethanol-water mixture. Continue
applying the vacuum until the crystals appear dry.
6. Determine the mass of the alum crystals.

OBSERVATION
Mass of aluminium metal = 1gm
Mass of potash alum =

RESULT
We have crystal form of pure alum.

Sample was heated in conical flask.

 CONCLUSION
First of all I wound like to thank our mam to give us nice
opportunity to show my talent . And I am very happy to
because it was nice experience that I made something that is
been used daily by people . I got lots of knowledge. Before this
I was not knowing about this topic . By doing this project now I
have experience and technique. It was really a successful
project for my team.

REFERENCE
1. Through NCERT Chemistry Practical book.
2. INTERNET.
 MY TEAM
ROHIT KUMAR GUPTA

TSHEPEL BHUTIA

SWATI SHARMA
 INDEX
1. CERTIFICATE
2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
3. MY TEAM
4. INTRODUCTION TO ALUM
5. ITS USES
6. ADVANTAGE OF ALUM
7. DISADVANTAGE OF ALUM
8. LAB WORK- PREPRATION OF ALUM FROM SCRAP ALUMINIUM
9. CONCLUSION
10. REFRENCE
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
In this accomplishment of this project successfully . I would like to
thanks express my gratitude to our Mr.SUSHMA TAMANG ,PGT
CHEMISTRY who gave me the opportunity to work on this project on
topic ALUM FROM SCRAP ALIMINIUM during my project I gain lots
of knowledge . Thank you mam for your presence all the time and for
your guidance its because of you we got success in our project and we
all had nice experience of lab work.
I would like to thank our principal sir for the support and permission.
And I thank my team mates for their support and hard work its a good
team work we put in our project. I would to thank my parents for their
moral and financial support.

THANK YOU