Aluminium potassium Sulphate AR 500g*
Aluminium potassium sulphate (also known as potash alum or potassium alum) is primarily used as a coagulant or flocculant in water purification experiments, as a mordant in dyeing processes, and for preparing specific staining solutions in histology, particularly when staining lung or muscle tissue sections; due to its astringent properties, it can also be used in some cosmetic applications like styptic pencils to stop minor bleeding.
Key points about Aluminium potassium sulphate AR:
Chemical formula: KAl(SO4)2
Common name: Alum
Typical form: Dodecahydrate (KAl(SO4)2 * 12H2O)
Applications in a lab:
Water treatment: Used to clarify water by causing suspended particles to clump together and settle out.
Dyeing: Acts as a mordant to fix dyes to fabric fibers
Histology: Used in preparing Mayer’s hematoxylin solution for staining tissue sections, particularly lung tissue
Crystallization experiments: Can be used to grow large, clear crystals for demonstration purposes
