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Information About

Aluminium Sulfate




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Aluminium sulfate is a widely used industrial chemical. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as ''' Alum ''', as it is closely related to this group of compounds. It occurs naturally as the Mineral Alunogenite . It is frequently used as a Flocculant in the purification of drinking water supplies, and also in paper manufacturing.

Aluminium sulfate is rarely, if ever, encountered as the anhydrous salt. It forms a number of different Hydrate s, of which the hexadecahydrate is the most common.

It can also be very effective as a Molluscicide , killing Spanish slugs.


PREPARATION


Aluminium sulfate may be made by dissolving Aluminium Hydroxide , Al(OH)3, in Sulfuric Acid , H2SO4:

2Al(OH)3 + 3H2SO4 + 10H2O → Al2(SO4)3·16H2O


USES


Aluminium Sulfate is used in Water Purification and as a Mordant in dyeing and printing textiles. In water purification, it causes impurities to coagulate which are removed as the particulate settles to the bottom of the container or more easily filtered.

When dissolved in a large amount of neutral or slightly-alkaline water, aluminium sulfate produces a gelatinous precipitate of Aluminium Hydroxide , Al(OH)3. In dyeing and printing cloth, the gelatinous precipitate helps the dye adhere to the clothing fibers by rendering the pigment insoluble.

Aluminium sulfate is the active ingredient of some Antiperspirant s; however, beginning in 2005 the US Food And Drug Administration no longer recognized it as a wetness reducer.

It is also used in Styptic Pencils .


SEE ALSO

  • Camelford , a town in Cornwall ( UK ) where the local water supplies were accidentally contaminated with aluminium sulfate.



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