Chemical Engineering Department

EXPERIMENT NO.

“PREPARATION OF ALUM”

1 Preparation of Alum
Chemical Engineering Department

EXPERIMENT NO. :

“PREPARATION OF ALUM”

Aim : To prepare 50 gm of potassium alum from aluminum sulfate and

potassium sulfate.

Apparatus : Flask, Beaker, Funnel, Measuring cylinder, wt box, filter paper,

burner, stand, etc.

Chemical : Aluminium sulfate, Potessium sulfate, Water.

Reaction : Al2(SO4)3 + K2SO4 + 24 H2O ------------Al2(SO4)3 K2SO4 24 H2O

Procedure : Dissolve K2SO4 and Al2(SO4)3in water separately, mix them

together in RBF. Make the solution clear by adding two drops of
dilute H2SO4 solution that the content up to 50 0C for 30 min. Filter
the solution in a beaker, concentrate the solution by evaporating
water. Heat the filter still it began to start crystals from the solution,
with the help of paper and dry it by placing between the filter beds.
Pack the crystals immediately in airtight container because the
crystals are hydroscopic in nature.

Properties :
(1) Chemical formula = Al2(SO4)3K2SO4 24 H2O
(2) Mol. Wt = 948
(3) Melting point = 92 0C
(4) Soluble in water
(5) Yellowish white crystalline substance

Application : Alum are used in water treatment and sometimes in drying, sizing
of paper, in dye industry as a modarant, used in some backing
powder.

Result :
(1) Theoretical yield = ________
(2) Practical weight obtained = ________
(3) % yield of Alum = ____________

2 Preparation of Alum
Chemical Engineering Department

Observations :
(1) Weight of Al2(SO4)3 taken =
(2) Weight of K2SO4 taken =
(3) Water taken =

Calculation :

Al2(SO4)3 + K2SO4 + 24 H2O ------------Al2(SO4)3K2SO4 24 H2O

(1) Requirement of Al2(SO4)3

Alum Al2(SO4)3
948 gm → 666 gm
50 → ?

=
(2) Requirement of K2SO4

Alum K2SO4
948 gm → 174 gm
50 → ?

=
(3) Water required

Alum Water
948 gm → 108
50 → ?

=
(4) Practical wt obtained of alum = ___________
(5) % yield of alum = (wt obtained/50) * 100

3 Preparation of Alum