Chemistry Investigatory Project - Karan

CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
SYNTHESIS OF
POTASH ALUM
Submitted by
Name: Karan Rathore
Class: XII B
Board Roll No:

KENSRI SCHOOL & COLLEGE
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that Karan Rathore, a student of class XII Science of KENSRI
School & College, Bangalore, has successfully completed the Investigatory Project
entitled:
“Synthesis of Potash Alum”
He has submitted the above-mentioned project under the guidance of Mrs. Leby
Thomas during the year 2019-20 in partial fulfillment of the Chemistry practical
examination conducted under AISSCE (All India Senior Certificate Examination)
by CBSE.
Date:
Registration No:
Signature of Principal Signature of Chemistry Teacher Signature of External Examiner
(Mrs. Renu Elizabeth Benny) (Mrs.Liby)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It is my humble pleasure to express my special

thanks of gratitude to our principal Mrs. Renu
Elizabeth as well as my teacher Mrs. Leby
Thomas who gave me the golden opportunity to
do this wonderful project on the topic ‘Synthesis
of Potash Alum’, which also helped me in doing
a lot of research. I am really thankful to them. I
would like to thank them for their valuable help,
guidance and constant support, without which
this project wouldn’t have come forth. I would
also like to thank the lab assistant Mr. for his
help and guidance.
Secondly, I would also like to thank my parents

and friends who helped me a lot with valuable
suggestions and in finalizing this project within
the limited time frame.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sl. No. Content Page No.
1. Introduction 1
2. Aim 2
3. Materials Required 3
4. Theory 4
5. Procedure 5
6. Observation 6
7. Bibliography 7
Introduction
Aluminum because of its low density, high tensile strength and
resistance to corrosion is widely used for the manufacture of airplanes,
automobiles lawn furniture as well as for aluminum cans. Being a good
conductor of electricity, it is also used for transmission of electricity.
Aluminum foil is used for wrapping confectionery, etc. Aluminum is
also used for making utensils. The recycling of aluminum cans and other
aluminum products is a very positive contribution to saving our natural
resources. Most of the recycled aluminum is melted and recast into other
aluminum metal products or used in the production of various aluminum
compounds, the most common of which are the alums. Alums are double
sulphates having general formula X2SO4.M2(SO4)3.24H2O
Where,
X: monovalent cation such as Na+, K+, NH4+ etc.
M: trivalent cation such as Al+3, Cr+3, Fe+3 etc.
Alums are isomorphous crystalline solids which are soluble in water.
Potash Alum: K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O
Potash Alum is a naturally mineral salt obtained from Alunite; a mineral
mined from sulfur-containing volcanic sediments source. Potassium
alum crystallizes in regular octahedral with flattened corners and is very
soluble in water to give an acid solution.
It is used in papermaking, in fire extinguishers and in purification of
water soda. Alum is used in baking powders and chrome alum is used in
tanning leather, deodorant, aftershaves and water proofing fabrics.
Aim: To synthesize Potash Alum
Materials Required
 Potassium Hydroxide (KOH)
 Sulphuric Acid(H2SO4)
 Conical Flask
 Aluminum Foil
 Funnel
 Beaker
Theory
Aluminum metal is treated with hot aqueous KOH solution. Aluminum
dissolves as potassium aluminate, KAl(OH)4, salt.
2Al(s) + KOH(aq) + 6H2O(l) 2KAl(OH)4(aq) + 3H2(g)
Potassium aluminate solution on treatment with dil. Sulphuric acid first

gives a precipitate of Al(OH)3, which dissolves on addition of small
excess of H2SO4 and heating,
2KAl(OH)4(aq) + H2SO4(aq) 2Al(OH)3(s) + K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)
2Al(OH)3 + 3H2SO4(aq) Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 6H2O(l)
The resulting solution is concentrated to near saturation and cooled. On

cooling, crystals of potash alum crystallize out,
K2SO4(aq) + Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 24H2O(l) K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O(s)
Procedure
 First take aluminum foil and cut it into very small pieces.
 Weigh exactly 11.2g of solid KOH and dissolve in water to prepare
4 M KOH solution.
 Take 1.00g of the small pieces of aluminum foil into a conical
flask and add about 50 ml of the KOH solution prepared to
dissolve the aluminum. The flask may be heated gently and
occasionally stirred in order to facilitate dissolution.
 Continue heating until all of the aluminum reacts. Filter the
solution to remove any insoluble impurities and reduce the volume
to about 25 ml by heating.
 Allow the filtrate to cool. Meanwhile prepare 6 M H2SO4.
 Add the H2SO4 solution that was prepared slowly into the filtrate
until insoluble Al(OH)3 just forms in the solution.
 Gently heat the mixture until the Al(OH)3 precipitate dissolves.
 Cool the resulting solution in an ice-bath overnight whereby alum
crystals separate out.
 In case crystals do not form the solution may be further
concentrated and cooled again.
 Filter the crystals from the solution using a vacuum pump, wash
the crystals with 50/50 ethanol-water mixture. Continue applying
the vacuum until the crystals appear dry.
 Determine the mass of the crystals.
Observation
 Mass of aluminum metal = 1g
 Mass of Potash Alum =14.39g
 Theoretical yield of potash alum =17.55
 Percent yield =14.39/17.55 * 100 = 81.9 %
Properties of Potash Alum are:
 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.
 Alum has antibacterial, astringent and styptic properties
 It also has antiseptic and cooling properties.
 It is flame resistant.
Bibliography
https://www.chemeurope.com/en/encyclopedia/Potassium_alum.html
https://www.takeitglobal.com.my/products/potassium-alum-potash-
alum-potassium-aluminum-sulphate-sulfate
NCERT Practical Chemistry for Class XII (CBSE)

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CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY

Name: Karan Rathore

Board Roll No:

“Synthesis of Potash Alum”

Signature of Principal Signature of Chemistry Teacher Signature of External Examiner

(Mrs. Renu Elizabeth Benny) (Mrs.Liby)

It is my humble pleasure to express my special

Secondly, I would also like to thank my parents

Sl. No. Content Page No.

Potassium aluminate solution on treatment with dil. Sulphuric acid first

2Al(OH)3 + 3H2SO4(aq) Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 6H2O(l)

The resulting solution is concentrated to near saturation and cooled. On

Properties of Potash Alum are:

 When heated to nearly a red heat, it gives a porous, friable mass,

NCERT Practical Chemistry for Class XII (CBSE)

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