Synthesis of Alum from Aluminum 1

Synthesis of Alum from Aluminum

03/27/2020

Purpose: In this experiment we will prepare an alum: : KAl(SO4)2·12H2O

[potassium aluminum sulfate dodecahydrate] from scrap aluminum. This
compound is widely used in dyeing fabrics, making pickles, making paper and
purifying water.

Aluminum reacts with alkaline solutions to produce hydrogen because the

excess hydroxide ion first attacks the tough layer of Al2O3 so that the metal can
react. Aluminum converts to the tetrahydroxoaluminate ion Al(OH)4–. Slow
addition of acid to a solution of this ion causes the precipitation of solid Al(OH)3
followed by the dissolving of the precipitate to form the aluminum ion Al3+. The
solid Al(OH)3 will also dissolve in excess base due to formation of Al(OH)4–.

Al+3(aq) add OH- → Al(OH)3 add con. OH- → AlOH)4-

Al+3(aq) ← add H+ Al(OH)3 ← add H+ AlOH)4-

Chemical Equations:
There are series of reactions involved in the competition of this experiment.
Those reactions are listed as follows:
1. Reaction of aluminum with KOH (the dissolution step)

2 Al(s) + 2 KOH(aq) + 6 H2O(l) →2 KAl(OH)4

(aq) + 3 H2 (g)
2. Initial addition of sulfuric acid (precipitation of Al(OH)3)
2 KAl(OH)4 (aq) + H2SO4 (aq) →2 Al(OH)3 (s) + K2SO4 (aq) + 2 H2O(l)

3. Further addition of sulfuric acid (dissolving of Al(OH)3)

 Synthesis of Alum from Aluminum 2

2 Al(OH)3 (s) + H2SO4 (aq) → Al2(SO4 )3 (aq) + 6

H2O(l)

4. Precipitation of alum on cooling

K2SO4 (aq) + Al2(SO4 )3 (aq) + 24 H2O(l) →2 KAl(SO4 )2 ⋅12 H2O(s)

It is possible to write an overall net ionic equation for the precipitation process:

K+(aq) + Al3+(aq) + 2 H2SO4 (aq) +12 H2O(l) → KAl(SO4 )2 ⋅12H2O(l)

Apparatus:

Materials required:

Aluminum or aluminum pieces

Analytical balance

250 ml beaker

Fume hood

Hot plate

Stirbar

Buchner funnel

Crushed ice

Filter paper

Chemicals required:

50 ml of 1.4M potassium hydroxide

Synthesis of Alum from Aluminum 3

20ml of 9M Sulphuric acid

10ml of ethanol

Water

Safety Precautions:

Potassium hydroxide is a strong base. If the solutions made from the strong bases
get splashed into our eyes then they can result in irreparable damage so fast that
by the time we reach to the eyewash fountain, it will be late already. So, we must
strictly wear safety glasses throughout the experiment.

Also, hydrogen gas is given off when aluminum metal reacts with potassium
hydroxide solution. And, hydrogen gas being extremely flammable, no open
flames are allowed in the lab.

Data:

Synthesis of alum from

aluminum
Mass of cleaned Al 0.91g
sample (g)
Moles of Al in 0.0337
sample(mol)
Theoritical moles of 0.0337
Alum(mol)
Theoritical mass of 15.98g
Alum(g)
Synthesis of Alum from Aluminum 4

Experimental mass of 14.76

Alum(g)
% yield of Alum 92.37%

Discussion and Conclusion:

First, we cut a piece of aluminum from the cans provided, cleaned with the steel
wool and it is cut into the small pieces to sped up the reaction. After it is cleaned
then we have to weigh the piece of aluminum. We found that the mass of cleaned
Al sample used for the experiment was 0.91gm. After that, we gather a 250ml
beaker and place it in a hot plate. We further add 50ml of 1.4M KOH. We allow
the reaction to proceed until all the aluminum pieces gets dissolved. This solution
will turn black because of the impurities. To speed up the reaction, we also ad the
stir bar into the beaker. When the reaction proceeds to competition we take the
beaker off the hot plate and leave it to cool. After the solution has cooled, we
then setup the buchner apparatus ad soak the filter paper with distilled water. We
run the solution through the buchner apparatus. After this we save the filtrate and
add it to a clean 250ml beaker. We the place this beaker in the hot plate and boil
down until it gets to approximately 60ml. We remove the beaker from the hot
plate and add 20ml of 9M sulphuric solution. We add it slowly and stir
continuously. We continue the stirring until the precipitate redissolves. We add
this to an ice bath and leave f0r around 15minutes for the crystals to form. Now
we prepare a solution of 1:1 ratio of ethanol and water solution. When the
crystals form, we can see white precipitate settled at the bottom of the beaker.
Now we weight the cleaner buchner funnel with filter paper and the weight we
found was 131.99gm. Now, we run the precipitate through the buchner apparatus
followed by rinsing of ethanol and water solution. Once the precipitate has dried
 Synthesis of Alum from Aluminum 5

for 5minutes, we again weigh the whole funnel on electronic balance and the
weight we found was 146.75gm.

From the ionic reaction provided we could see that one mole of Aluminum reacts
to form one mole of Alum. So using the mole ratio, the 0.0337moles of
aluminum which was used for the experiment must yield 0.0337 moles of the
alum. The weight of 0.0337moles of alum is 15.98gm. While, experimentally we
found out that the yield was only 14.76gm. Here, we can clearly see that there is
some difference between the theoretical yield and the experimental yield. We
divide the experimental yield of alum by the theoretical yield and multiply it by
100% to find out the percentage yield. From the calculation, we found out that
the percentage yield of alum was 92.37%. I think we obtained a good percentage
of Alum because there are many factors that play huge role in making the yield
less than 100%. Sometimes, the strong reaction can cause the product to result in
less amount while sometimes, impurities present in the sample gets filtered out
and we obtain the product in less amount.

Pre-laboratory

1. What is the chemical formula for Alum? Where is alum commonly used?
= The chemical formula of Alum is KAl(SO4)2·12H2O. Alum is frequently used
in the purification of drinking water in industries.

2. Calculate the amount in moles and the mass in grams of KOH needed to convert
1.50 g of aluminum to KAl(OH)4. Write the balanced equation first.
2 Al + 2 KOH + 6 H2O → 2 KAl(OH)4 + 3 H2
(1.50 g Al) / (26.9815 g Al/mol) x (2/2) = 0.0556 moles KOH
(0.0556 moles KOH) x (56.1057 g KOH/mol) = 3.12 g KOH
 Synthesis of Alum from Aluminum 6

3. Calculate the number of milliliters of 9.0M H2SO4 that you would need to convert
0.070 moles of KAl(OH)4 to K2SO4 and Al2(SO4)3 according to the following
equation:

2 KAl(OH)4 + 4 H2SO4 →K 2SO4 + Al2(SO4)3 + 8 H2O

=0.070 KAl(OH)4 x ( 2 mol H2SO4 / 1 mol KAl(OH)4 ) x ( 1 L of 9.0M
H2SO4 / 9 mol H2SO4 ) x ( 1000 mL / 1 L ) = 15.6 mL of 9.0M H2SO4

4. How many moles and how many grams of potassium alum, KAl(SO 4)2 · 12 H2O,
can be prepared from 5.00 g of aluminum?
5gm of Al = 0.1852moles
So, moles of KAl(SO4)2 · 12 H2O,-0.1852moles
Grams of KAl(SO4)2 · 12 H2O,= 0.1852*474 = *7.78gm of KAl(SO4)2 · 12 H2O,

5. If 75.0 g of potassium alum is obtained from 5.00 g of aluminum what is the

percent yield?
Percent yield= (actual yield/theoretical yield)*100
Theoretical yield= 87.78gm So,
Perceent yield= (75/87.78gm)*100=*5.44%

6. How many grams of aluminum were used to prepare 20.0 g of potassium

alum if the percent yield was 81.5%?
Percent yield= (actual yield/theoretical yield)*100 From this equation we find
that, theoretical yield was 24.54gms.
Synthesis of Alum from Aluminum 7

So, moles of P0tassium obtained= 24.54/474=0.0518

Again, moles of Aluminum=0.0518 So, grams of Al- 0.0518*27 = 1.398gms