Chemistry Investigatory Project

Report

By : Revanur Srinivas Sidhartha Sarma

Class: XII
Topic: Preparation of Alum
 CERTIFICATE

NAME: Revanur Srinivas Sidhartha Sarma

CLASS: XII (Twelve)
Roll Number:
School: Alpine Public School
This is certified to be the bona fide work of the student in
the Chemistry LABORATORY during the academic year
2018-19

Teacher in charge Examiner’s Signature:

Signature:

Principal’s Signature:

School’s seal:

Date:
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all those who

provided me the possibility to complete this project. A special
gratitude I give to our Chemistry teacher, Vani C.M whose
contribution in stimulating suggestions and encouragement helped
to coordinate my project.

I take this opportunity to thank our head of Institute, Mrs. Jaya

Shastry who was always supportive and helpful in fulfilling all our
academic requirements.

I have to appreciate the guidance given by teachers as well as my

fellow mates, especially in our project that has improved our
presentation skills.
 INDEX

 Introduction
 Uses of Alum
 Activity
 Materials Required
 Theory
 Procedure
 Observation
 Result
 Bibliography
 INTRODUCTION
Aluminium because of its low density, high tensile strength and
resistance to corrosion is widely used for the manufacture of
airplanes, automobiles lawn furniture as well as for aluminium cans.
Being, a good conductor of electricity it is used for transmission of
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 used in the production of various aluminium compounds, the
most common of which are the alums.

What is ALUM?
It is usually a hydrated double Sulfate Salt - KAl2(SO4)2.12H2O. ALUM
normally refers to the commonly used Potash-Alum. The name
"alum" is also used, more generally, for salts with the same formula
and structure, except that aluminium is replaced by
another trivalent metal ion like chromium , or sulfur is replaced by
other chalcogen like selenium. Other types of ALUM include – Soda
Alum, Ammonium Alum, Chrome Alum and Selenate Alum.

1. Soda Alum – (NaAl(SO4)2.12H2O). It is used in baking powder

and as an acidulant in food.

2. Ammonium Alum – (NH4Al(SO4)2.12H2O). Ammonium alum

finds applications in tanning, dyeing textiles, making
textiles flame retardant, in the manufacture of porcelain cement
and vegetable glues, in water purification and in some
deodorants.
 3. Chrome Alum – (KCr(SO4)2.12H2O). This compound is used in
tanning and can be added to other alum to grow lavender or
purple crystals.

4. Selenate Alum – Selenate alums occur when selenium takes the

place of sulfur so that instead of a sulfate you get a Selenate,
(SeO42-). The selenium-containing alums are strong oxidizing
agents, so they can be used as antiseptics, among other uses.

APPLICATION OF ALUM

Alum is usually used to purify drinking water. When alum is added to

raw water, it reacts with the bicarbonate alkalinities present in
the water and forms a gelatinous precipitate. This flocculation
attracts other fine particles and suspended material in raw water,
and settles down at the bottom of the container.
Alum is also used in:

 Styptic pencil to stop bleeding from minor cuts

 The adjuvant in vaccines ( a chemical that enhances the
immune response)
 Deodorant "rock"
 Pickling agent to help keep pickles crisp
 Flame retardant
 The acidic component of some types of baking powder
 An ingredient in some homemade and commercial modeling
clay
 An ingredient in some depilatory (hair removal) waxes
 Skin whitener
 Ingredient in some brands of toothpaste

ACTIVITY

AIM - To prepare potash alum from aluminium scrap

MATERIALS REQUIRED -
 250 ml flask
 Funnel

 Beaker

 Scrap aluminium foil

 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) + 6H20(l) 2KAl(OH)4 (aq) + 3H2 (g)

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 2Al(OH)3 + K2SO4 (aq) + 2H2O(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 K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O

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 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 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 = 1 g
 Mass of potash alum = 2.08 g
 Theoretical yield of potash alum = 2.47 g
 Percent yield = 84 %

RESULT –
Potash alum of 84 % yield was prepared from aluminium scrap.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Chemistry Comprehensive Lab Manual

 Thoughtco.com

 Sciencing.com

 Chemicalland.com