7308 (1) - 1

PREPARATIOIN OF POTASH ALUM
INDEX
Index
om
1) Certificate (ii)
2) Acknowledgement (iii)
3) Declaration (iv)
4) Dedication (vi)
E.c
5) Introduction 07
6) Aim 10
7) Requirements 10
8) Theory
BS
11
9) Reactions 12
10)Procedure 13
11)Observations 15
iC
12)Result 15
13)Bibliography 16
5
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Aluminium because of its low density, high
om
tensile strength and resistance to corrosion is widely used
for the manufacture of aeroplanes, automobiles lawn
furniture as well as for aluminium cans. Being good
conductor of electricity it is used for transmission of
E.c
electricity. Aluminium is also used for making utensils.
The recycling of aluminium cans and other aluminium
products is a very positive contribution to saving our
natural resources. Most of the recycled aluminium is
melted and recast into other aluminium metal products or
BS
used in the production of various aluminium compounds,

the most common of which are the alums. Alums are
double sulphates having general formula
iC
X2SO4.M2(SO4)3.24H2O
X = Monovalent cation; M = Trivalent cation
Some important alum and their names are given below:
K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O - Potash Alum
7
Na2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O - Soda Alum
Introduction
K2SO4.Cr2(SO4)3.24H2O - Chrome Alum
(NH)2SO4.Fe2(SO4)3.24H2O - Ferric Alum
om
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.
E.c
In addition to these primary uses, alum is also used as
i. An astringent a substance or preparation that draws

BS
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,
iC
ii. 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.
8
Introduction
iii. For the removal of phosphate from natural and

waste waters the aluminium ions of alum combine with
the orthophosphate around pH 6 to form the solid
om
aluminum hydroxyphosphate which is precipitated and
iv. For fireproofing fabrics The major uses of alums are

based on two important properties, namely precipitation
E.c
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+

BS
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.
iC
9
AIM
Aim
To prepare potash alum from aluminium scrap
REQUIREMENT om
E.c
Requirement
 250 ml flask
BS
 Funnel
 Beaker
iC
 Scrap aluminium or cola can
 Potassium hydroxide solution (KOH)
 6 M Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4)
 Water Bath
10
 Ethanol
THEORY
Theory
Aluminum metal is treated with hot aqueous KOH
om
solution. Aluminium dissolves as potassium aluminate,
KAl(OH)4, salt.
2Al(s) + 2KOH(aq) + 6H2O(l)  2KAl(OH)4 (aq) + 3H2

E.c
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.
BS
2KOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq)  2Al(OH)3 (s) + K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)
2Al(OH)3 (s) + 3 H2SO4(aq)  Al2(SO4)3(aq) +6H2O(l)

iC
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)  K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.

24H2O(s)
11
REACTIONS
Reactions
2Al(s) + 2KOH (aq) + 6H2O (l)  2KAl (OH)4 (aq) + 3H2
om
24H2O(s)
E.c
2Al(OH)3 (s) + 3 H2SO4(aq)  Al2(SO4)3(aq) +6H2O(l)
2KOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq)  2Al(OH)3 (s) + K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)

BS

24H2O(s)
iC
12
PROCEDURE
Procedure
 Clean a small piece of scrap aluminium with steel

wool and cut it into very small pieces. Aluminium foil
om
may be taken instead of scrap aluminium.
 Put the small pieces of scrap aluminium or

E.c
aluminium foil (about 1.00g) into a conical flask and add
about 50 ml of 4 M KOH solution to dissolve the
aluminium.
BS
 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.
iC
 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.
13
 Allow the filtrate to cool. Now add slowly 6 M

H2SO4 until insoluble Al(OH)3 just forms in the solution.
Procedure
 Gently heat the mixture until the Al(OH)3 precipitate

dissolves.
om
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.
E.c
In case crystals do not form the solution may be further
concentrated and cooled again.
BS
Filter the crystals from the solution using vacuum pump, wash
the crystals with 50/50 ethanol-water mixture.
iC
Continue applying the vacuum until the crystals appear dry.
Determine the mass of alum crystals.
14
OBSERVATION
Observation
Mass of aluminium metal =…………….g
om
Mass of potash alum =…………….g
Theoretical yield of potash alum =……………g
Percent yield =……………%

E.c
BS
RESULT
Result
iC
Potash alum of % yield was prepared from

aluminium scrap.
15

7308 (1) - 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

7308 (1) - 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

7308 (1) - 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PREPARATIOIN OF POTASH ALUM

Aluminium because of its low density, high

used in the production of various aluminium compounds,

X = Monovalent cation; M = Trivalent cation

Some important alum and their names are given below:

K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O - Potash Alum

Na2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O - Soda Alum

K2SO4.Cr2(SO4)3.24H2O - Chrome Alum

(NH)2SO4.Fe2(SO4)3.24H2O - Ferric Alum

i. An astringent a substance or preparation that draws

together or constricts body tissues and is effective in

ii. A mordant substances used in dyeing to fix certain

iii. For the removal of phosphate from natural and

iv. For fireproofing fabrics The major uses of alums are

Al(H2O)6+3 → Al(OH)3 ↓ + 3H2O + 3H+

The H+ ions generated are used foe reacting with sodium

To prepare potash alum from aluminium scrap

 Scrap aluminium or cola can

 Potassium hydroxide solution (KOH)

 6 M Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4)

Aluminum metal is treated with hot aqueous KOH

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

2KOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq)  2Al(OH)3 (s) + K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)

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

The resulting solution is concentrated to near saturation

K2SO4(aq) + Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 24H2O(l)  K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.

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

2KOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq)  2Al(OH)3 (s) + K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)

K2SO4(aq) + Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 24H2O(l)  K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.

 Clean a small piece of scrap aluminium with steel

 Put the small pieces of scrap aluminium or

 The flask may be heated gently in order to facilitate

 Continue heating until all of the aluminium reacts.

 Filter the solution to remove any insoluble impurities

 Allow the filtrate to cool. Now add slowly 6 M

 Gently heat the mixture until the Al(OH)3 precipitate

Continue applying the vacuum until the crystals appear dry.

Determine the mass of alum crystals.

Mass of aluminium metal =…………….g

Theoretical yield of potash alum =……………g

Percent yield =……………%

Potash alum of % yield was prepared from

You might also like