An alum (/ˈæləm/) is a type of chemical compound, usually a hydrated double sulfate salt of

aluminium with the general formula XAl(SO4)2·12H2O, where X is a monovalent cation such as
potassium or ammonium.[1] By itself, "alum" often refers to potassium alum, with the formula
KAl(SO4)2·12H2O. Other alums are named after the monovalent ion, such as sodium alum and
ammonium 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(III), and/or sulfur is
replaced by other chalcogen like selenium.[1] The most common of these analogs is chrome alum
KCr(SO4)2·12H2O.

In most industries, the name "alum" (or "papermaker's alum") is used to refer to aluminium sulfate
Al2(SO4)3·nH

2O, which is used for most industrial flocculation. In medicine, "alum" may also refer to aluminium
hydroxide gel used as a vaccine adjuvant.[2]