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    Sukanya

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    Aluminum can be treated with hot potassium hydroxide solution to dissolve as potassium aluminate. This solution is then treated with sulfuric acid to precipitate aluminum hydroxide, which dissolves upon further addition of sulfuric acid and heating. The resulting solution contains aluminum sulfate and potassium sulfate and produces potash alum crystals upon cooling. The document then provides a procedure to produce alum crystals from aluminum metal through this process.

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    Sukanya

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    Srija
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    Aluminum can be treated with hot potassium hydroxide solution to dissolve as potassium aluminate. This solution is then treated with sulfuric acid to precipitate aluminum hydroxide, which dissolves upon further addition of sulfuric acid and heating. The resulting solution contains aluminum sulfate and potassium sulfate and produces potash alum crystals upon cooling. The document then provides a procedure to produce alum crystals from aluminum metal through this process.

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    Aluminum can be treated with hot potassium hydroxide solution to dissolve as potassium aluminate. This solution is then treated with sulfuric acid to precipitate aluminum hydroxide, which dissolves upon further addition of sulfuric acid and heating. The resulting solution contains aluminum sulfate and potassium sulfate and produces potash alum crystals upon cooling. The document then provides a procedure to produce alum crystals from aluminum metal through this process.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    14 views2 pages

    Sukanya

    Uploaded by

    Srija
    Aluminum can be treated with hot potassium hydroxide solution to dissolve as potassium aluminate. This solution is then treated with sulfuric acid to precipitate aluminum hydroxide, which dissolves upon further addition of sulfuric acid and heating. The resulting solution contains aluminum sulfate and potassium sulfate and produces potash alum crystals upon cooling. The document then provides a procedure to produce alum crystals from aluminum metal through this process.

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    INTRODUCTION

    Aluminium is widely used in manufacturing aircraft , automobile, cans, utensils,


    etc due to its high tensile strength, low density, resistance to corrosion. Recycling
    of aluminium products is a positive contribution towards saving our natural
    resources. Most of the recycled aluminium is melted and recasted into other
    products and compounds, like alums. Alums are double sulphated, having general
    formula X2SO4. M2(SO4)3. 24H2O .
    Alums are isomorphous crystalline solids , soluble in water. Potash alum is
    used in papermaking, in fire extinguishers, food stuffs and purification of water.
    Soda alum is used in making baking powders ,and chrome alum used in tanning
    leather and water proofing fabrics.

    Aluminium metal, when treated with hot aq. KOH solution, aluminium dissolves
    as potassium aluminate, KAl(OH)4 salt.

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


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

    2KAl(OH)4 (aq) + H2SO4(aq) 2Al(OH)3(s) + K2SO4 (aq) + 2H2O(l)

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


    The resulting solution is concentrated to near saturation and cooled . On cooling
    crystals of potash alum crystallize out.
    K2(SO4)3(aq). + Al2(SO4)3 +24H2O(l) K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O(s)
    PROCEDURE
    • Clean a small piece of scrap aluminium with steel wood and cut it into very
    small pieces . Aluminium foil can also be taken.
    • Put the small pieces of scrap Al or Al foil(about 1.00 g) into a conical flask
    and add about 50 ml of 4 M KOH solution to dissolve the Al. 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 Al 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 6M H2SO4 until 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
    separate out. For better results the solution may be left overnight for
    crystallization to continue. In case the crystals do not form the solution may
    be further concentrated and cooled again.
    • Filter the crystals from the solution using a vacuum pump, wash the crystals
    with 50/50 ethanol-water mixture . Continue applying vacuum until crystals
    appear dry.
    • Determine mass of alum crystals.

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