CHEMISTRY

project
Session-2023-2024

An Investigatory Project Report on

“Preparation of Double Salts”

Submitted By: Agamya Kulkarni

Class—12th(Science)
Roll No:-- ___13____(CBSE)

Under the Guidance Of:

Mr. Hitesh Sir
(Chemistry)
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Agamya .S . Kulkarni of Class 12th

has successfully completed the project work on Chemistry
For Class XII (AISSCE) Practical Examination of the Central
Board of Secondary Education in the year 2023-2024.It
Is further certified that this project is the individual work
Of the candidate.

Internal Examiner External Examiner

Signature Certificate

Mrs. Nirmal Tandon

Principal(Shannen Kids School)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I, Agamya Kulkarni of Standard 12th –A (CBSE),am

Glad to present my Chemistry Project on the topic
“Preparation of Double Salts”.

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude

To my Chemistry Teacher Mr. Hitesh Sir for his able
Guidance and support in completing this project.

I would also like to extend my gratitude to our Principal

Mrs. Nirmal Tandon for providing me with all the required
Facilities.

I am also grateful to my parents and friends for

their assistance in completing this project in
Such a short period of time. I’d also like to thank
My classmates for their helpful instructions and
suggestions.
Contents
• TITLE

• 1)Double Salts

• 2)Potash Alum

• 3)Preparation of Potash Alum

• 4)Bibliography
DOUBLE SALTS:
• Double salts are salts containing more than one
cation or anion, and are obtained by combination
of two different salts which were crystallised in
the same regular ionic lattice. Examples:
Aluminium Sulfacetate (Al2SO4(CH3CO2)4) ,
Rochelle’s Salt( KNaC4H4O6·4H2O) etc. Each salt in
the mixture has its own unique crystal structure.

Properties of Double Salts are –

1. A double salt is combination of two or more different

salts.

2. A double salt completely disassociates in ions in water

and gives simple ions. An aqueous solution of a double
salt is composed of cations and anions which were in the
initial two salt compounds.

3. A double salt can be easily analysed by testing the

presence of simple cations and anions present in it
Points of Difference between Double Salt and
Complex Salt are –

1. Double salts completely dissociate into its ions in

water whereas Complex salts do not completely
dissociate into its ions in water.
2. Double salts give simple ions when added to water
whereas Complex salts do not give simple ions.

3. Double salts can easily be analyzed by determining

the ions present in the aqueous solution whereas
Complex salts cannot be easily analyzed by
determining the ions in the aqueous solution.
POTASH ALUM:
• (POTTASIUM ALUMINIUM SULPHATE/
KAl(SO4)2.12H2O)
Potassium alum, potash alum, or potassium aluminium
sulphate is a chemical compound: the double sulphate
of potassium and aluminium , with chemical formula
KAl(SO4)2. It is commonly encountered as the
dodecahydrate, KAl(SO4)2·12H2O. The compound is the
most important member of the generic class of
compounds called alums. It is very soluble in water. The
solution of alum is slightly acidic. When heated to nearly
a red heat, it gives a porous, friable mass, which is
known as "burnt alum". It fuses at 92 °C (198 °F) in its
own water of crystallization. Potassium alum may be a
weak irritant to the skin.

STRUCTURE:
It crystallizes in cubic structure and lattice
parameter of 12.18 Å. Potassium alum crystallizes
in regular octahedra with flattened corners.

PREPARATION:

NATURAL OCCURENCES: 1.Potassium alum

dodecahydrate occurs in nature as a sulphate
mineral called alum-(K), typically
 as encrustations on rocks in areas of weathering and
oxidation of sulfide minerals and potassium-bearing
minerals.

• 2.In the past, potassium alum has been obtained from

alunite (KAl(SO4)2.2Al(OH)3), mined from sulphur
containing volcanic sediments.In order to obtain alum
from alunite, it is calcined and then exposed to the
action of air for a considerable time. During this
exposure it is kept continually moistened with water,
so that it ultimately falls to a very fine powder. This
powder is then lixiviated with hot water, the liquor
decanted, and the alum allowed to crystallize.

• INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION:

• Potassium alum is now produced industrially by

adding potassium sulphate to a concentrated solution
of aluminium sulphate. The aluminium sulphate is
usually obtained by treating minerals like alum schist,
bauxite and cryolite with sulphuric acid.If much iron
should be present in the sulphate then it is preferable
to use potassium chloride in place of potassium
sulphate.
• PROPERTIES:

• CHEMICAL FORMULA KAl(SO4)2.12H2O

• MOLAR MASS 258.192 g/mol (anhydrous) 474.43
g/mol ( dodecahydrate )
• APPEARANCE White crystals
• DENSITY 1.75 g/cm3
• MELTING POINT 92 to 95οC ; 198 to 203οF ; 365 to
368K
• BOILING POINT 200οC ; 392οF ; 473K
• SOLUBILITY IN WATER 14 g/100 ml ( 20οC ) 36.80
g/ 100 ml ( 50οC )
• REFRACTIVE INDEX 1.4564
• TASTE Astringent taste

USES :
• 1. Potassium alum is used in medicine mainly as an
astringent (or styptic) and antiseptic.
• 2. Potassium alum is used to reduce blooding and to
relieve stings and bites.
3.Potassium alum is used as a fire retardant to render
cloth, wood, and paper materials less flammable.
4. Potassium alum was formerly used as a hardener
for photographic emulsions (films and papers),
usually as part of the fixer.
5. Potassium alum is also effective for preventing
gum disease and cleaning teeth.
PREPARATION OF POTASH ALUM:

• AIM: To prepare a pure sample of potash alum.

• REQUIREMENTS: Beakers, China dish, funnel, glass

rod, wire gauze, Bunsen burner, Potassium
Sulphate, Aluminium Sulphate, dilute sulphuric
acid.

• PROCEDURE:
• 1. Take a 250ml beaker. Transfer 2.5g of potassium
sulphate crystals to it. Add about 20ml of water. Stir
to dissolve the crystals.
• 2. Take another 250ml beaker and transfer 10g of
aluminium sulphate crystals to it. Add about 20ml of
water and add 1ml of dilute sulphuric acid to prevent
hydrolysis of aluminium sulphate crystals to it. Heat
for about 5 minutes and filter the solution if milkiness
still persists.
• 3. Mix the two solutions in a china dish and place the
china dish over a wire gauze placed over a burner. Stir
the solution with a glass rod. Concentrate the solution
till crystallization point is reached. Place the dish over
a beaker containing cold water.
• 4.Crystals of potash alum will separate out. Decant off
the mother liquor and wash the crystals with cold
water.
• 5. Dry the crystals by placing them between filter
paper.
REACTION:
• K2SO4 + Al2(SO4)3.18H2O + 6H2O
K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O

(Potassium Sulphate) + (Aluminium

Sulphate) (Potash Alum)
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

• 1. Chemistry Class XII Part-1 – NCERT

• 2. Comprehensive Practical Chemistry – Class XII
• 3. Wikipedia and other websites