Chrome alum or Chromium(III) potassium sulfate is the potassium double sulfate of chromium.

Its chemical formula is KCr(SO4)2 and it is commonly found in its dodecahydrate form as

KCr(SO4)2·12(H2O). It is used in leather tanning.

Chromium alum is produced from chromate salts or from ferrochromium alloys. Concentrated

aqueous solutions of potassium dichromate can be reduced, usually with sulfur dioxide but also

with alcohols or formaldehyde, in the presence of sulfuric acid at temperatures <40 °C.

Alternatively and less commonly, ferrochromium alloys can be dissolved in sulfuric acid and,

after precipitation of the ferrous sulfate, the chrome alum crystallizes upon addition of potassium

sulfate. Chromium alum crystallizes in regular octahedral with flattened corners and is very

soluble in water. The solution reddens litmus and is an astringent. Aqueous solutions are dark

violet and turns green when it is heated above 50 °C. In addition to the dodecahydrate, the

hexahydrate KCr(SO4)2·6H2O, dihydrate KCr(SO4)2·2H2O, and the monohydrate KCr(SO4)2·H2O

are known.

Chromium alum is used in the tanning of leather as chromium(III) stabilizes the leather by cross

linking the collagen fibers within the leather. However, this application is obsolete because the

simpler chromium(III) sulfate is preferred. It is also used in gelatine emulsions

in photographic film as hardener.