Investigatory Project Chem

Introduction
Aluminium because of its low density, high

tensile strength and resistance and resistance to corrosion
is widely used for the manufacture of aeroplanes,
automobiles lawn furniture as well as for aluminium cans.
Being good conductor of electricity it is used for
transmission of electricity. Aluminium is also used for
making utensils. The recycling of aluminium cans and
other aluminium products is a very positive contribution
to saving our natural resources. Most of the recycled
aluminium is melted and recast into other aluminium
metal products or used in the production of various
aluminium compounds, the most common of which are
the alums. Alums are double sulphates having general
formula
X2SO4.M2(SO4)3.24H2O
Some important alums and their names are given below:
K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O - Potash Alum

Na2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O - Soda Alum
K2SO4.Cr2(SO4)3.24H2O - Chrome Alum
(NH)2SO4.Fe2(SO4)3.24H2O - Ferric Alum
Potash alum is used in papermaking, in fire

extinguishers in food stuffs and in purification of water
soda alum used in baking powders and chrome alum is
used in tanning leather and water proofing fabrics.
In addition to these primary uses, alum is also used as
(i) an astringent A substance or preparation, that draws together or

constricts body tissues and is effective in stopping the flow of blood
or other secretions. Alum has also been used by conventional
hairdressers for treating shaving cuts,
(ii) a mordant Substances used in dyeing to fix certain dyes on cloth.
Either the mordant (if it is colloidal) or a colloid produced by the
mordant adheres to the fiber, attracting and fixing the colloidal
mordant dye. The insoluble, colored precipitate that is formed is
called a lake. Alum is a basic mordant used for fixing acid dyes,
(iii) for the removal of phosphate from natural and waste waters The
aluminum ions of alum combine with the orthophosphate around pH
6 to form the solid aluminum hydroxyphosphate which is
precipitated and
(iv) for fireproofing fabrics.
The major uses of alums are based on two important properties,
namely precipitation of Al(OH), and those related to the acidity
created by the production of hydrogen ions.
AI(H₂O), Al(OH), ↓ + 3H₂O + 3H*
The H ions generated are used for reacting with sodium bicarbonate
to release CO₂. This property is made use of in baking powder and
CO, fire extinguishers.
Aim
To prepare potash alum from aluminium scrap
Requirements
 250 ml flask
 Funnel
 Beaker
 Scrap aluminium or cola can
 Potassium hydroxide solution (KOH)
 6 M Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4)
 Water Bath  Ethanol
Aluminum metal is treated with hot aqueous KOH solution.
Aluminium dissolves as potassium aluminate, KAl(OH)4, salt.
2Al) + 2KOH(aq) + 6H₂O) -2KAl(OH)4 (aq) + 3H₂
Potassium aluminate solution on treatment with dil. Sulphuric acid

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

On cooling crystals of potash alum
crystallize out.
K₂SO4 + Al(SO4)3)+24H₂0- K₂SO4.Al₂(SO4)3. 24H₂O(a
Reactions
2Al(s) + 2KOH(aq) + 6H2O(l) ⎯→ 2KAl(OH)4 (aq) + 3H2
K2SO4(aq) + Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 24H2O(l) ⎯→ K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.
24H2O(s)
2Al(OH)3 (s) + 3 H2SO4(aq) ⎯→ Al2(SO4)3(aq) +6H2O(l)
2KOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq) ⎯→ 2Al(OH)3 (s) + K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)
K2SO4(aq) + Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 24H2O(l) ⎯→ K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.
24H2O(s)
Procedure
Clean a small piece of scrap aluminium with steel
wool and cut it into very small pieces. Aluminium
foil may be taken instead of scrap aluminium.
Put the small pieces of scrap aluminium or
aluminium foil(about 1.00g) into a conical flask and
add about 50 ml of 4 M KOH solution to dissolve
the aluminium.
The flask may be heated gently in order to facilitate
dissolution. Since during this step hydrogen gas is
evolved this step must be done in a well ventilated
area.
Continue heating until all of the aluminium reacts.
Filter the solution to remove any insoluble
impurities and reduce the volume to about 25 ml by
heating.
Allow the filtrate to cool. Now add slowly 6 M
H2SO4 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 for about
30 minutes whereby alum crystals should separate
out. For better results the solution may be left
overnight for crystallization to continue.
In case crystals do not form the solution may be
further concentrated and cooled again.
Filter the crystals from the solution using vacuum
pump, wash the crystals with 50/50 ethanol-water
mixture.
Continue applying the vacuum until the crystals
appear dry.
Determine the mass of alum crystals.
Observations
Mass of aluminium metal =…………….g
Mass of potash alum =…………….g
Theoretical yield of potash alum =……………g
Percent yield =……………%
Result
Potash alum was prepared from aluminium
scrap.
Bibliography
http://www.cbseportal.com
Wikipedia
Chemicalland.com
books.google.co.in

Investigatory Project Chem

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Introduction

Aluminium because of its low density, high

K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O - Potash Alum

Potash alum is used in papermaking, in fire

(i) an astringent A substance or preparation, that draws together or

AI(H₂O), Al(OH), ↓ + 3H₂O + 3H*

2Al) + 2KOH(aq) + 6H₂O) -2KAl(OH)4 (aq) + 3H₂

Potassium aluminate solution on treatment with dil. Sulphuric acid

2KOH(aq) + H₂SO4(a) -2Al(OH)3() + K₂SO4(aq) + 2H₂O)

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

The resulting solution is concentrated to near saturation and cooled.

K₂SO4 + Al(SO4)3)+24H₂0- K₂SO4.Al₂(SO4)3. 24H₂O(a

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