Description
Alum Potash, commonly known as Potassium Alum or Potassium Aluminium Sulfate, is a double salt with the chemical formula
KAl(SO
4
)
2
⋅
12
H
2
O
KAl(SO
4
)
2
⋅12H
2
O.
Chemical Description
Formula:
KAl(SO
4
)
2
⋅
12
H
2
O
KAl(SO
4
)
2
⋅12H
2
O.
Appearance: Colorless, transparent crystals or white crystalline powder.
Molecular Weight: 474.39 g/mol (dodecahydrate).
Solubility: Highly soluble in water, practically insoluble in alcohol.
Melting Point: About 92°C (dehydrates at this temperature).
Crystal Structure: Forms octahedral crystals.
pH: Slightly acidic aqueous solution.
Other Names: Potash alum, fitkari (in India).
Properties and Uses
Water Treatment: Widely used as a coagulant in water purification to aid the removal of suspended particles.
Medicine: Used as an astringent, antiseptic, and in wound care to control bleeding.
Textiles: Important mordant in dyeing and printing fabrics, as well as a fire retardant for textiles, wood, and paper.
Leather Tanning: Used to extract moisture from hides and prevent rotting during the tanning process.
Cosmetics and Hygiene: Ingredient in deodorants, aftershave, and for treating minor cuts or abrasions due to its astringent properties.
Food: Occasionally used in food processing and pickling for its preservative and firming effects (within safety guidelines).
Traditional and Other Applications
Traditional Medicine: Known for treating mouth ulcers, controlling bleeding, and other local applications like gargling.
Pigment Base: Used in the manufacture of lake pigments as a base for colorants.
Agriculture: Used for pH adjustment and as a pesticide or antifungal agent in soil treatment (fitkari).
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