Preparation of

Potash alum
Chemistry Investigatory project

–Bhavna M.
XII – A
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher Mrs. Anitha

kumari who gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the
topic preparation of potash alum, which also helped me in doing a lot of Research
and I came to know about so many new things I am really thankful to them. I
extend my gratitude to our principal mam Dr. T. Suprabha Singh and academic
coordinator Mrs. Yamuna for providing with all the facilities that was required.
I would also like to thank my parents and friends who helped me a lot in finalizing
this project within the limited time frame.
Contents

Introduction 3

Objective 6

Requirements. 7

Theory. 8

Reactions. 9

Procedure. 10

Observation. 11

Result. 11

Bibliography. 12
 INTRODUCTION

Aluminum is the third most abundant element and most abundant metal in the
earth’s crust. It is concentrated in a number of high grades, natural bauxite
deposits.
Because of its low density, high tensile strength and resistance to corrosion,
aluminum is widely used for the manufacturing of automobile products, airplanes,
aluminum cans, and aluminum foils. Being good conductor of electricity, it is used
for transmission for electricity. Aluminum is also found useful for making cooking
utensils
The recycling of aluminum scraps is a very positive contribution in saving our
natural environment and creating wealth.
Most of the recycled aluminum are melted and recast into other aluminum metal
products or used in the production of various aluminum compounds like alums in
the form of dry crystals.
The alum has wide application in industries such as textile industry, waste water
treatment plant, paper and pulp industry, food industry, domestic water
purification; it is also medically used as an astringent and antiseptic, as a natural
deodorant by inhibiting the growth of the bacteria responsible for body odor, to
reduce bleeding in minor cuts and abrasions.
Alums are double sulphates having general formula X2 SO4 . M2 (SO4)3 . 24H2O
where, X = monovalent cation such as Na+ , K+ , NH4+ , etc.
M = trivalent cation such as Al+3, Cr+3 , Fe3+, etc.
Alums are isomorphous crystalline solids which are soluble in water.

Some important alums are given below:

IMPORTANT AND THEIR
ALUMS FORMULAE
POTASH ALUM KAl(SO4)2·12H2O
SODA ALUM NaAl(SO4)2·12H2O
CHROME ALUM KCr(SO4)2·12(H2O)
FERRIC ALUM NH4Fe(SO4)2·12 H2O,

Potash alum is used in papermaking, in fire extinguishers, in food stuffs and in

purification of water soda alum used in baking powders and chrome alum is used
in tanning leather and water proofing fabrics.
In addition to these primary uses, alum is also used as

o An astringent a substance or preparation that draws together or

constricts body tissues and is effective in stopping the flow of blood
or other secretions. Alum has also been used by conventional
hairdressers for treating shaving cuts,

o A mordant substances used in dyeing to fix certain dyes on cloth.

Either the mordant (if it is colloidal) or a colloid produced by the
mordant adheres to the fiber, attracting and fixing the colloidal
mordant dye. The insoluble, colored precipitate that is formed is
called a lake. Alum is a basic mordant used for fixing acid dyes.

o For the removal of phosphate from natural and waste waters the
aluminum ions of alum combine with the orthophosphate around pH 6
to form the solid aluminum hydroxyphosphate which is precipitated
and
o For fireproofing fabrics The major uses of alums are based on two
important properties, namely precipitation of Al(OH)3 and those
related to the acidity created by the production of hydrogen ions.

Al(H2O)6+3 → Al(OH)3 ↓ + 3H2O + 3H+

The H+ ions generated are used foe reacting with sodium bicarbonate
to release CO2. This property is made use of in baking powder and
CO2 fire extinguishers.
 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

To prepare a sample of potash alum from scrap aluminium

REQUIREMENT

250 ml flask

Funnel

Beaker

Scrap aluminium or cola can

Potassium hydroxide solution (KOH)

6 M Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4)

Water Bath

Ethanol
THEORY

Aluminum metal is treated with hot aqueous KOH solution. Aluminium dissolves
as potassium aluminate, KAl(OH)4, salt.

2Al(s) + 2KOH(aq) + 6H2O(l) ¾ → 2KAl(OH)4(aq) + 3H2

Potassium aluminate solution on treatment with dil. Sulphuric acid first gives
precipitate Al(OH)3, which dissolves on addition of small excess of H2SO4 and
heating.

2KOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq) ¾→ 2Al(OH)3 (s) + K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)

2Al(OH)3 (s) + 3 H2SO4(aq) ¾ → Al2(SO4)3(aq) +6H2O(l)

The resulting solution is concentrated to near saturation and cooled. On cooling

crystals of potash alum crystallize out.

K2SO4(aq) + Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 24H2O(l) ¾ →K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3. 24H2O

REACTIONS

2Al(s) + 2KOH (aq) + 6H2O (l) ¾ → 2KAl (OH)4 (aq) + 3H2

K2SO4(aq) + Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 24H2O(l) ¾ →K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O(s)

2Al(OH)3(s) + 3 H2SO4(aq) ¾ → Al2(SO4)3(aq) +6H2O(l)

2KOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq) ¾ → 2Al(OH)3 (s) + K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)

K2SO4(aq) + Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 24H2O(l) ¾ → K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O(s)

PROCEDURE

 Clean a small piece of scrap aluminium with steel wool and cut it into very
small pieces. Aluminium foil may be taken instead of scrap aluminium.

 Put the small pieces of scrap aluminium or aluminium foil (about 1.00g) into
a conical flask and add about 50 ml of 4 M KOH solution to dissolve the
aluminium.

 The flask may be heated gently in order to facilitate dissolution. Since

during this step hydrogen gas is evolved this step must be done in a well
ventilated area.

 Continue heating until all of the aluminium reacts.

 Filter the solution to remove any insoluble impurities and reduce the volume
to about 25 ml by heating.

 Allow the filtrate to cool. Now add slowly 6 M H2SO4until insoluble

Al(OH)3 just forms in the solution.

 Gently heat the mixture until the Al(OH)3 precipitate dissolves.

 Cool the resulting solution in an ice-bath for about 30 minutes whereby alum
crystals should separate out. For better results the solution may be left
overnight for crystallization to continue.
 In case crystals do not form the solution may be further concentrated and
cooled again.
  Filter the crystals from the solution using vacuum pump, wash the crystals
with 50/50 ethanol-water mixture.

 Continue applying the vacuum until the crystals appear dry.

 Determine the mass of alum crystals.

OBSERVATION

Mass of aluminium metal (foil container) = 1.01 g

Mass of potash alum = 11.68g

Theoretical yield of potash alum = 17.74g

Percent yield = 65.83%

CALCULATIONS

Mass of aluminum used (foil) = 1.07 g

Molar mass of aluminum = 26.98 g

No. Of moles of aluminum = mass of aluminum/ molar mass of aluminum

= 0.0374 moles

Since 2 moles of aluminum gives 2 moles of aluminum, there is a ratio of 1:1

Hence,

No. Of moles of alum = 0.0374 g

Mass of alum yield = no. of moles of alum * molar mass of alum

= 0.0374 * 474.39 = 17.74g

Therefore,

Theoretical yield = 17.74g

% of yield = (actual yield / theoretical yield) * 100

= (11.68/17.74) * 100

= 65.83%

RESULT
Potash alum of 65.83% yield was prepared from aluminium scrap.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Icbse.com

Wikipedia.com

Comprehensive practical chemistry

ChemlabTruman.edu