Ammonium alum: Difference between revisions

| verifiedrevid = 397769305

| ImageFile = Ammonium aluminium sulfate dodecahydrate.svg

| ImageFile1 =

| ImageSize1 = 300px

| IUPACName = Aluminium ammonium bis(sulfate) {{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}

| OtherNames = Ammonium alum<br/>[[Tschermigite]]

| Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers

| SMILES = [Al+3].[O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-].[O-]S([O-])(=O)=O.[NH4+]

| CASNo1 = 7784-26-1

| CASNo1_Comment = (dodecahydrate)

| EINECS = 232-055-3

| RTECS = WS5640010

| InChI = 1/Al.H3N.2H2O4S/c;;2*1-5(2,3)4/h;1H3;2*(H2,1,2,3,4)/q+3;;;/p-3

| StdInChI_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}}

| InChIKey = LCQXXBOSCBRNNT-DFZHHIFOAY

| StdInChIKey_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}}

| ChemSpiderID_Ref = {{chemspidercite|correct|chemspider}}

| ChemSpiderID1 = 56419

| ChemSpiderID1_Comment = (dodecahydrate)

| Section2 = {{Chembox Properties

| Reference = <ref name="RubberBible">{{RubberBible62nd|pages=B-74, B-75}}.</ref>

| Formula = (NH₄)Al(SO₄)₂

| MolarMass = 237.15 g/mol (anhydrous)<br/>453.33 g/mol (dodecahydrate)

| Appearance = white crystals

| Density = 2.45 g/cm³ (anhydrous)<br/>1.64 g/cm³ (dodecahydrate)

| MeltingPt = 93.5 °C (dodecahydrate)

| BoilingPt = 120 °C ''dehydr.'' (dodecahydrate)

| Solubility = 15 g/100 ml (20 °C, dodecahydrate)

| Section3 = {{Chembox Structure

| Reference = <ref name="RubberBible"/>

| CrystalStruct = Hexagonal (anhydrous)<br/>Cubic (dodecahydrate)

| SpaceGroup =

| Coordination = Octahedral (Al³⁺)

| LattConst_a =

| Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards

| Reference = <ref>{{GHS class NZ|id=15938|accessdate=2009-11-23}}.</ref>

| EUIndex = not listed

| GHSPictograms = {{GHS07|Skin Irrit. 2; Eye Irrit. 2}}

| GHSSignalWord = WARNING

| HPhrases = {{H-phrases|315|319}}

| PPhrases = {{P-phrases|264|280|302+352|305+351+338|321|332+313|337+313|362}}

| FlashPt = non-flammable

| ExternalMSDS = [http://hazard.com/msds/mf/baker/baker/files/a2760.htm External MSDS]

'''Ammonium aluminium sulfate''', also known as '''ammonium alum''' is a white crystalline [[double sulfate]] usually encountered as the dodecahydrate, [[Chemical formula|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]].<ref name="RubberBible"/>

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 gem]]s.<ref>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}}</ref>

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 [[deodorant]]s and in tanning, dyeing and in fireproofing textiles.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.questia.com/library/encyclopedia/alum.jsp | contribution = Alum | title = The Columbia Encyclopedia | year = 2004 | edition = 6th | publisher = Columbia University Press | location = Ithaca, NY | accessdate = 2009-11-23}}.</ref> 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.<ref>{{citation | url = http://hazard.com/msds/mf/baker/baker/files/a2760.htm | title = Aluminum Ammonium Sulfate Material Safety Data Sheet | publisher = J. T. Baker | date = March 2009 | accessdate = 2009-11-23}}.</ref>

Ammonium alum is a common ingredient in animal repellant sprays.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.bruceharris.com.au/BHPMweb/dter_faq.htm | title = D-TER Animal and Bird Repellent | publisher = Bruce Harris Project Management Pty Ltd | date = 2004-09-04 | accessdate = 2010-03-03}}.</ref><ref>{{citation | url = http://www.multicrop.com.au/MSDS/Scat_MSDS.doc | title = Scat Material Safety Data Sheet | publisher = Multicrop (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. | date = 2003-03-04 | accessdate = 2010-03-03}}.</ref><ref>{{citation | url = http://www.tandridge.gov.uk/environment/pestcontrol/foxes.htm | title = Pest Control: Foxes | publisher = Tandridge District Council (UK) | date = 2006-02 | accessdate = 2010-03-03}}.</ref>

== Toxicology ==

Aluminium sulfate, closely related to ammonium alum, is nontoxic with an {{LD50}} of 6207&nbsp;mg/kg. No human or ecological (for reduced concentrations) toxicity registered.<ref>{{citation | title = PAN Pesticide Database | url = http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC33857 | contribution = Ammonium alum | publisher = Pesticides Action Network | accessdate = 2009-11-23}}.</ref>

{{inorganic-compound-stub}}

[[ar:شبة الأمونيوم]]

[[de:Aluminiumammoniumsulfat-Dodecahydrat]]

[[hu:Alumínium-ammónium-szulfát]]

[[nl:Aluminiumammoniumsulfaat]]

[[pl:Siarczan(VI) amonu i glinu]]

[[pt:Alúmen de amônio]]

[[zh:硫酸铝铵]]