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Aluminium Hydroxide: Alum Solution Dropped into Ammonia Water (Ure 1839)
Drop a weak alum solution into ammonia water and a bulky white precipitate falls: aluminium hydroxide, which Ure called aluminous earth. Washed, it is the starting point for aluminium salts and for alumina.
Result: a bulky white precipitate; dried, it weighs 10.82 % of the alum used. Ure dissolves it in acid while it is still moist.
Source: Ure, Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines (1839), Alum. Not given: how much ammonia water, its strength, how it is washed. Ours: work in fresh air, as ammonia fumes sting. Picture drawn by Youblob.
Beginner
3 hours
Instructions
1
1
Dissolve alum in 20 parts of water
Dissolve alum in 20 parts of water
Weigh the alum and dissolve it in 20 times its weight of water.
Materials for this step:
Alum (Potassium Alum)1 part by weightTools needed:
Distilled Water
Balance Scale
Borosilicate Beaker
Glass Stirring Rod2
2
Drop it slowly into ammonia water
Drop it slowly into ammonia water
Drop the alum solution slowly into caustic ammonia water, stirring, until the ammonia is nearly, but not entirely, saturated. A bulky white precipitate falls down. Ure gives no strength. Ours: 25-28 % ammonia solution.
Tools needed:
Ammonia Solution - 25-28%Borosilicate BeakerGlass Stirring Rod3
3
Wash the precipitate with water
Wash the precipitate with water
Wash the precipitate properly with water. Ure does not say how. Ours: collect it on filter paper in a funnel and pour water through until the washings no longer smell of ammonia.
Tools needed:
Glass Funnel - Stemmed
Filter PaperDistilled Water4
4
Keep it moist for dissolving
Keep it moist for dissolving
Dried, the precipitate weighs 10.82 % of the alum. Ure dissolves it in acid while it is still moist. Ours: keep it wet in a closed jar until it is used.
Tools needed:
Glass Jars with LidsMaterials
1- 1 part by weightPlaceholder
Tools Required
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