Alum [Chemical formula, Physical, Chemical Properties and Reactions]

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: February 3, 2024

The chemical formula of Alum is  KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O

Physical Properties of Al.um:

PropertiesDetails
AppearanceColorless or white crystals
Boiling PointDecomposes at high temperatures
Crystal SystemTriclinic
Density1.64 g/cm³
Melting Point92-95 °C (198-203 °F)
OdorOdorless
SolubilitySoluble in water

Chemical Properties of Alum:

PropertyDetails
Chemical FormulaKAl(SO4)2·12H2O
DecompositionDecomposes on heating to release water and sulfur trioxide (SO3)
Hydrate StructureForms a hydrated crystal lattice structure
Molar Mass474.39 g/mol
pHAcidic (around 3)
ReactivityReacts with bases, acids, and various metals
SolubilitySoluble in water, insoluble in organic solvents

Reaction of alum with Transition metal

Transition metalReactions
Iron (Fe)Creation of ferric alum (FeAl(SO4)2•12H2O)
Copper (Cu)Redox Reactions with creation of copper metal and aluminum oxide
Lead (Pb)Precipitation Reactions with creation of lead sulfate (PbSO4)
Zinc (Zn)New compound formed with sulfate ion or water molecules
Nickel (Ni)New compound formed with sulfate ion or water molecules
Cobalt (Co)New compound formed with sulfate ion or water molecules

Reaction of alum with Non-metal

Non-metalReactions
Sulfur (S)Creation of aluminum sulfide (Al2S3)
Carbon (C)Reduction of aluminum  to produce aluminum metal and carbon dioxide gas
Nitrogen (N)Creation of aluminum nitride (AlN)
Oxygen (O)No product
Hydrogen (H)No product
Halogens (F, Cl, Br, I)No product

Reaction of alum with Metalloid

MetalloidReactions
Silicon (Si)Creation of aluminum silicate (Al2SiO5)
Boron (B)Reduction of aluminum  to produce aluminum metal and boron oxide gas
Arsenic (As)Creation of aluminum arsenate (AlAsO4)
Germanium (Ge)No product
Antimony (Sb)No product
Tellurium (Te)No product

Reaction of alum with Lanthanide

LanthanideReactions
Cerium (Ce)Creation of CeAl11O18
Europium (Eu)Reduction of aluminum  to produce aluminum metal and europium oxide gas
Gadolinium (Gd)Creation of GdAl11O18
Lanthanum (La)No product
Praseodymium (Pr)No product
Neodymium (Nd)No product
Samarium (Sm)No product
Europium (Eu)Reduction of aluminum  to produce aluminum metal and europium oxide gas
Terbium (Tb)No product
Dysprosium (Dy)No product
Holmium (Ho)No product
Erbium (Er)No product
Thulium (Tm)No product
Ytterbium (Yb)No product
Lutetium (Lu)No product

Reaction of alum with Actinide

ActinideReactions
Uranium (U)Creation of UAl4
Plutonium (Pu)No product
Americium (Am)No product
Curium (Cm)No product
Berkelium (Bk)No product
Californium (Cf)No product
Einsteinium (Es)No product
Fermium (Fm)No product
Mendelevium (Md)No product
Nobelium (No)No product
Lawrencium (Lr)No product
Thorium (Th)Creation of ThAl12
Protactinium (Pa)No product
Neptunium (Np)No product