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Ammonium alum

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Ammonium alum
Names
IUPAC name Aluminium ammonium bis(sulfate)
Other names Ammonium alum
Tschermigite
Identifiers
CAS Number
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.141 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 232-055-3
E number E523 (acidity regulators, ...)
RTECS number
  • WS5640010
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
InChI
  • InChI=1S/Al.H3N.2H2O4S/c;;2*1-5(2,3)4/h;1H3;2*(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+3;;;/p-3Key: LCQXXBOSCBRNNT-UHFFFAOYSA-K
  • InChI=1/Al.H3N.2H2O4S/c;;2*1-5(2,3)4/h;1H3;2*(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+3;;;/p-3Key: LCQXXBOSCBRNNT-DFZHHIFOAY
SMILES
  • .S(=O)(=O).S()(=O)=O.
Properties
Chemical formula (NH4)Al(SO4)2
Molar mass 237.15 g/mol (anhydrous)
453.33 g/mol (dodecahydrate)
Appearance white crystals
Density 2.45 g/cm (anhydrous)
1.64 g/cm (dodecahydrate)
Melting point 93.5 °C (dodecahydrate)
Boiling point 120 °C dehydr. (dodecahydrate)
Solubility in water 15 g/100 ml (20 °C, dodecahydrate)
Structure
Crystal structure Hexagonal (anhydrous)
Cubic (dodecahydrate)
Coordination geometry Octahedral (Al)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms Skin Irrit. 2; Eye Irrit. 2
Signal word Warning
Hazard statements H315, H319
Precautionary statements P264, P280, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362
Flash point non-flammable
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C , 100 kPa). checkY verify (what is  ?) Infobox references
Chemical compound

Ammonium aluminium sulfate, also known as ammonium 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.

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.

Uses

Ammonium alum is not a major industrial chemical or a particularly useful laboratory reagent, but it is inexpensive and nontoxic, 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. The pH of the solution resulting from the topical application of ammonium alum with perspiration is typically in the slightly acid range, from 4 to 5.

Ammonium alum is a common ingredient in animal repellant sprays.

Toxicology

Aluminium sulfate, closely related to ammonium alum, is nontoxic with an LD50 of 6207 mg/kg. No human or ecological (for reduced concentrations) toxicity registered.

References

  1. ^ Weast, Robert C., ed. (1981). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (62nd ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. pp. B-74, B-75. ISBN 0-8493-0462-8..
  2. HSNO Chemical Classification Information Database, New Zealand Environmental Risk Management Authority.
  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, retrieved 2010-03-03.
  7. Scat Material Safety Data Sheet, Multicrop (Aust.) Pty. Ltd., 2003-03-04, retrieved 2010-03-03.
  8. Pest Control: Foxes, Tandridge District Council (UK), 2006-02, retrieved 2010-03-03 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help).
  9. "Ammonium alum", PAN Pesticide Database, Pesticides Action Network, retrieved 2009-11-23.


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