Preparation of Potash Alum

Project to prepare pure Potash Alum Crystals

A.I.SSCE
2022 − 23
Roll No:
 Certificate

This is to certify that this project has been made by

Riddhiman Sengupta of Class XII Section A, on the topic
“Preparation of Potash Alum” as suggested by Mrs.
Sumanlata Pillai, during the academic year 2022-23, as per
the guildlines issued by the Central Board of Secondary
Education - CBSE and has completed the same succesfully.

Signature of Internal Examiner Signature of External Examiner

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 Acknowledgement

I would like to sincerely thank my physics teacher, Mrs.

Sumanlata Pillai, our Director Ma’am Meena Kak and our Vice
Principal Ma’am Jaya Mishra, who gave me the chance to work
on this educational project on the topic “Preparation of
Potash Alum”. This project developed my teamwork skills
along with my research skills. I would also like to thank my
classmates who helped me gain the knowhow and the
materials required for making this project successful.

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Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Aim 1

3 Theory 1

4 Materials Required 1

5 Apparatus Setup 2

6 Procedure 2

7 Observations 3

8 Results and Discussion 3

9 Precautions 3

10 Bibliography 3
1 Introduction

Potash alum also called potassium aluminium sulfate is a chemical compound

commonly encountered as the dodecahydrate. It is a double salt widely used in
medicine and in the water purification process. Potash alum is not a complex salt. The
chemical formula of potash alum is

K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O.

2 Aim

To prepare potash alum from potassium sulfate and aluminium sulfate through
crystallization.

3 Theory

The formula for potash alum is K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O. It is prepared by

crystallizing the alum from a concentrated solution containing equimolar amounts of
potassium sulfate and aluminium sulfate. It is a colourless, crystalline solid with a sour
taste. The crystal of potash alum is octahedral.
The chemical reaction is given below.
K2SO4(aq) + Al2(SO4)3(aq) − → K2SO4 · Al2(SO4)3 · 24 H2O(s) (Potash Alum)
While dissolving aluminium sulphate in warm water a little amount of dilute sulphuric
acid is added in order to prevent the hydrolysis of this salt.
When a solution containing two inorganic salts in a definite proportion is allowed to
crystallize a double slat is said to have separated. The name alum is given to the
special series of double salts. Aluminium is the most abundant metal and the recycling
of aluminium products by melting and recasting into other metal products is used in
the production of various aluminium compounds. In that one of the most useful
compounds is potash alum.

4 Materials Required
1. Potassium sulphate
2. Aluminium sulphate
3. Dil. sulfuric acid
4. Distilled water
5. Beaker
6. Conical flask

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 7. Tripod stand
8. Funnel
9. Burner
10. China dish
11. Wire gauze
12. Filter paper

5 Apparatus Setup

Figure 1: Diagram

6 Procedure
1. Weigh 12.5g of potassium sulfate and dissolved in a minimum quantity of distilled
water in a beaker. Stir to dissolve the crystals.
2. Take a conical flask, in that dissolve 50g of aluminium sulfate in warm water and
add 3ml of dilute sulphuric acid to make the solution clear.
3. Filter the solutions if it is not clear.
4. Mix the two clear solutions in a china dish.
5. Place the china dish on a wire gauze over a burner.
6. Stir the solution and concentrate the solution till the crystallization point is
reached.
7. Place the solution over a beaker containing cold water for a few hours.
8. Crystals of potash alum will get separated, filter them from the mother liquor and
wash them with a small quantity of cold water.
9. Dry the crystals by pressing gently between the folds of the filter paper.
10. Weigh them on the chemical balance to know the yield.

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7 Observations

Colour of the crystal Colorless

Shape of the crystal Octahedral
Solubility in water Soluble
Action of blue litmus paper Blue litmus turns red
Table 1: Observations

8 Results and Discussion

• Mass of Al = 0.5g
• Mass of Potash Alum = 6.3g
• Theoretical yield of Potash Alum = 8.8g
• Percent yield = 71%

9 Precautions
• To prevent hydrolysis of aluminium sulfate, dilute sulphuric acid should be added
while preparing the saturated solution.
• During crystallization do not disturb the solution.
• For dissolving salts always use warm water.
• The concentrated solution should be cooled slowly.

10 Bibliography

[1] Veena Sagar. Together With Chemistry Lab Manual Class 12