Chrome alum

Potassium chromium sulfate
Preferred IUPAC name

Chromium potassium sulfate
Other names

Chromium alum
Identifiers
CAS number 10141-00-1
PubChem 61489
ChemSpider 19968602
EC number 233-401-6
MeSH chrome+alum
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula KCrS2O8
Molar mass 283.220 g mol-1
Exact mass 282.807677121 g mol-1
Density 1.83 g cm-3
Melting point

89 °C, 362 K, 192 °F
Solubility in water 2.440 kg kg-1
Hazards
GHS pictograms
GHS signal word WARNING
GHS hazard statements H315, H319
GHS precautionary statements P305+351+338
EU classification Xi
R-phrases R36/37/38
S-phrases S26
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Chrome alum or Chromium(III) potassium sulfate is the potassium double sulfate of chromium. Its chemical formula is KCr(SO4)2 and it is commonly found in its dodecahydrate form as KCr(SO4)2·12(H2O). It was formerly used in leather tanning.[1]

Contents

Production and properties

Chromium alum is produced from chromate salts or from ferrochromium alloys. Concentrated aqueous solutions of potassium dichromate can be reduced, usually with sulfur dioxide but also with alcohols or formaldehyde, in the presence of sulfuric acid at temperatures <40 °C. Alternatively and less commonly, ferrochromium alloys can be dissolved in sulfuric acid and, after precipitation of the ferrous sulfate, the chrome alum crystallizes upon addition of potassium sulfate. Chromium alum crystallizes in regular octahedra with flattened corners and is very soluble in water. The solution reddens litmus and is an astringent. Aqueous solutions are dark violet and turns green when it is heated above 50°C.[1] In addition to the dodecahydrate, the hexahydrate KCr(SO4)2·6H2O, dihydrate KCr(SO4)2·2H2O, and the monohydrate KCr(SO4)2·H2O are known.[2]

Uses

Chromium alum is used in the tanning of leather[1] as chromium(III) stabilizes the leather by cross linking the collagen fibers within the leather.[3] However, this application is obsolete because the simpler chromium(III) sulfate is preferred.[2]

It was also used in gelatine emulsions in photographic film.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Holleman, Arnold F.; Wiberg, Egon; Wiberg, Nils; (1985). "Chromium" (in German). Lehrbuch der Anorganischen Chemie (91–100 ed.). Walter de Gruyter. pp. 1082–1095. ISBN 3-11-007511-3. 
  2. ^ a b Gerd Anger, Jost Halstenberg, Klaus Hochgeschwender, Christoph Scherhag, Ulrich Korallus, Herbert Knopf, Peter Schmidt, Manfred Ohlinger, "Chromium Compounds" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2005.
  3. ^ Brown, E. M.; Dudley, R.L.; Elsetinow A. R. (1997). "A Conformational Study of Collagen as Affected by Tanning Procedures". Journal of the American Leather Chemists Association 92: 225–233. 
  4. ^ British Journal of Photography, vol 23

External links