Alum, or styptic, is the common name for the double sulfate salt of potassium-aluminum [KAl(SO4)2]. The form in which it is best known is its hydrated salt [KAl(SO4)2·12H2O]. It is a salt extracted from bauxite.
It appears in the form of large, transparent crystals, with a sweet taste that becomes astringent after a while. It dissolves slightly in cold water and much in hot water. It also dissolves in glycerin, while it is insoluble in alcohol.
When heated, it melts at 91°C and if cooled, it turns into a mass that resembles glass. If we continue to heat it above 91°C, it becomes anhydrous, expands, and turns into a light, spongy white mass, the "burnt alum."
USES:
- as a natural deodorant
- in water purification
- as an astringent medicine
- as a hemostatic
- as a disinfectant
- for gargling
- in dyeing as a mordant
- in tanning
- in papermaking
- in glue preparation
- in photography
- as a waterproofing agent
Product Details
- Format
- -
Quantity
- Weight
- 250 gr
Important information
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