PREPARATION OF

INORGANIC SALT- POTASH ALUMK,SOA. Al, (SO4),. 24 H,0]

AIM:

To prepare a pure sample of potash alum [phitkari). (K,SO0, Al, (SO.),. 24H,0|
THEORY:

Potash alum is prepared by dissolving an equimolar mixture of hydrated

aluminium sulphate and potassium sulphate in minimum arnount of water
containing a little of sulphuric acid and ten subjecting the resulting solution to
cystallization when octahedral crystals of potash alum separates out.

K;SO. + Al, (SOa}3. 18H,0 + 6H,0 ’ K,SO,. Al, (SO:),. 24H,0

Potassium Aluminium Potash alum

Sulphate Sulphate
174g 666g
REQUREMENTS:

2beakers (250ml), China dish, funnel,funnel stand, glass rod, wash bottle,
tripod stand and wire gauze, potassium sulphate, aluminium sulphate and
dilute sulphuric acid.
PROCEDURE:

Take a 250ml þeaker. Wash it with water and then transfer 2.5g
potassiumctystals to it. Add about 20ml of water. Stir to dissolve the
crystals. VWarm if regquired.
Take the other 250ml beaker, wash it with water and then transfer 10g
aluminium sulphate crystals to it. Add about 20ml of water and 1ml of
dil. Sulphuric acid to prevent hydrolysis of aluminium sulphate. Heat for
about 5 minutes. If milkiness still persists, filter the solution.
Mix the 2 solutions in achina dish and place the china dish on a wire
gauze placed over a burner. Stir the solution with a glass rod.
Concentrate the solution till the crystallization point is reached. Place
the dish over a beaker containing cold water.

Page 1
Type text)
 " Soon the crystals of potash alum separates out. Decant off the
mother
liquor and wash the crystals with asmall quantity of ice cold water.
" Dry the crystals by placing them between filter paper or spreading
over porous plate. them
RESULT:

The given double salt was weighed and had octahedral shape.
PRECAUTIONS:

" Coolthe solution slowly to get good crystals.

" Do not disturb the solution while it is being cooled.

LHS

OBSERVATION TABLE:

Yield
Colour
shape
bahedsal

[Type text)

Page 2