Ammonium alum

Ammonium aluminium sulfate, also known as ammonium alum or just alum (though there are many different substances also called "alum"), is a white crystalline double sulfate usually encountered as the dodecahydrate, formula (NH4)Al(SO4)2·12H2O. It is used in small amounts in a variety of niche applications. The dodecahydrate occurs naturally as the rare mineral tschermigite.[1]

Ammonium alum
Names
Other names
Ammonium alum sulfate
Tschermigite
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.141
EC Number
  • 232-055-3 616-522-2 (dodecahydrate)
E number E523 (acidity regulators, ...)
KEGG
RTECS number
  • WS5640010
UNII
  • InChI=1S/Al.H3N.2H2O4S/c;;2*1-5(2,3)4/h;1H3;2*(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+3;;;/p-3 checkY
    Key: LCQXXBOSCBRNNT-UHFFFAOYSA-K checkY
  • InChI=1/Al.H3N.2H2O4S/c;;2*1-5(2,3)4/h;1H3;2*(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+3;;;/p-3
    Key: LCQXXBOSCBRNNT-DFZHHIFOAY
  • [Al+3].[O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O.[NH4+]
Properties[1]
(NH4)Al(SO4)2
Molar mass 237.15 g/mol (anhydrous)
453.33 g/mol (dodecahydrate)
Appearance white crystals
Density 2.45 g/cm3 (anhydrous)
1.64 g/cm3 (dodecahydrate)
Melting point 93.5 °C (200.3 °F; 366.6 K) (dodecahydrate)
Boiling point 120 °C (248 °F; 393 K) dehydr. (dodecahydrate)
15 g/100 ml (20 °C, dodecahydrate)
Structure[1]
Hexagonal (anhydrous)
Cubic (dodecahydrate)
Octahedral (Al3+)
Hazards[2]
GHS labelling:
Skin Irrit. 2; Eye Irrit. 2
Warning
H315, H319
P264, P280, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362
Flash point Non-flammable
Safety data sheet (SDS) External MSDS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)
Infobox references

Production and basic properties

Ammonium alum is made from aluminium hydroxide, sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate. It forms a solid solution with potassium alum. Pyrolysis leaves alumina. Such alumina is used in the production of grinding powders and as precursors to synthetic gems.[3]

Uses

Ammonium alum is not a major industrial chemical or a particularly useful laboratory reagent, but it is cheap and effective, which invites many niche applications. It is used in water purification, in vegetable glues, in porcelain cements, in deodorants and in tanning, dyeing and in fireproofing textiles.[4] The pH of the solution resulting from the topical application of ammonium alum with perspiration is typically in the slightly acid range, from 3 to 5.[5]

Ammonium alum is a common ingredient in animal repellent sprays.[6][7][8]

References
  1. Weast, Robert C., ed. (1981). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (62nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. pp. B-74, B-75. ISBN 0-8493-0462-8..
  2. HSNO Chemical Classification Information Database, New Zealand Environmental Risk Management Authority, retrieved 2009-11-23.
  3. Otto Helmboldt, L. Keith Hudson, Chanakya Misra, Karl Wefers, Wolfgang Heck, Hans Stark, Max Danner, Norbert Rösch "Aluminum Compounds, Inorganic" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2007, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.doi:10.1002/14356007.a01_527.pub2
  4. "Alum", The Columbia Encyclopedia (6th ed.), Ithaca, NY: Columbia University Press, 2004, retrieved 2009-11-23.
  5. Aluminum Ammonium Sulfate Material Safety Data Sheet, J. T. Baker, March 2009, retrieved 2009-11-23.
  6. D-TER Animal and Bird Repellent, Bruce Harris Project Management Pty Ltd, 2004-09-04, archived from the original on 2009-10-15, retrieved 2010-03-03.
  7. Multicrop Scat Bird and Animal Repellent Data Sheet (PDF), Multicrop (Aust.) Pty. Ltd., 2003-03-04, retrieved 2010-03-03.
  8. Pest Control: Foxes, Tandridge District Council (UK), February 2006, retrieved 2010-03-03.
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