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Potash Aluminium Sulphate
Potash Aluminium Sulphate
POTASH ALUMINIUM SULPHATE
Potash Aluminium Sulphate is an inorganic compound. It is the double sulphate of aluminium and potassium with molecular formula KAl(SO4)2. It is often experienced as dodecahydrate. In an alkali/base solution Potassium Aluminium Sulphate is crystallized as a cubic structure but when comes in contact with the neutral solution, its crystallization is like an octahedral structure. It has its other names or maybe synonyms like Potash-Alum, Burnt Potassium-Alum, and Aluminium Potassium Disulphate. Alum of potassium and aluminium is the most significant member of the generic class, which plays a vital role in chemical compounds. Alum of potassium and aluminium with sulphate with ratio 1:1:2 is metal sulphate. It is commonly referred to as “Fitkari”.
Physical Properties
Potash Aluminium Sulphate is highly soluble in water but nonsoluble in ethanol and acetone. On heating, it turns to red color and forms a porous thus called burnt alum.
It is large, hard, stable, and transparent crystalline fragments or powder.
| Appearance | Crystalline powder |
| Boiling point | 200°C |
| Density | 1.725g/cm |
| Melting point | 92°C |
| Chemical formula | KAl(SO4)2 |
| Molar mass | 474.37 g/mole |
| pH | Between 3,0 and 4,0
(10% solution) |
USES AND APPLICATIONS FOR Potassium AluminiumSulphate
Potassium Aluminium Sulphatee is used widely in various fields of daily life:-
- It is used as a fire-retardant frequently.
- It is also used for leather tanning and can be washed out easily.
- It is used to absorb moisture from hidden rotting.
- Its alum solution is used for machined castings of steel parts of machinery.
- It is used for dyeing, treatment/purification of water, and printing fabrics.
- It is used as an antiperspirant and utilized in drugs.
- It is typically used for clarifying sugar.
Preparation of Potash Alum
Industrially, today Potassium Aluminium Sulphate is produced by adding Aluminium sulphate in potassium sulphate solutions (concentrated form).
Chemical Properties
- Potassium Aluminium Sulphate is acidic in nature.
- It turns blue litmus paper into red.
- Moreover, it is octahedral structured sulphate.
- Being an odorless and colorless compound its metal sulphate has a styptic taste.