Japanese Internment
How to Grow Alum Crystals
Background Information
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material, whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. The scientific study of crystals and crystal formation is crystallography. The process of crystal formation via mechanisms of crystal growth is called crystallization or solidification.
Potassium alum (Aluminum Potassium Sulfate) is the white crystalline natural mineral salt (double sulfate) of potassium which typically occurs as encrustations on rocks in areas of weathering and oxidation of sulfide minerals and potassium-bearing minerals. The crystal alum mineral is commercially extracted in select quarries throughout the world.
Potassium alum is specific chemical compound that is also part of a class of alum chemical compounds. The term alum refers to various double sulfates that have the general formula of (SO4)3•24H2O plus an additional element, such as potassium, which results in potassium alum: KAL (SO4)2•12H2O.
Potassium alum, and alums alike, crystallize in regular octahedral. It is soluble in water, and when heated it liquefies; and if the heating is continued, an unstructured powder will remain. Commonly, potassium alum crystal is colorless and glassy (vitreous), and in its purest form is completely translucent with small fractures.
Potassium alum has been a sought after natural mineral salt for thousands of years due to its abilities to effectively contribute to water purification, pickling, tanning, medical procedures and in cosmetics as an aftershave or deodorant. Potassium alum is antimicrobial and can therefore be used as a natural deodorant by inhibiting the growth of the bacteria responsible for body odor. It is also used in medical procedures as a local astringent and styptic.
Important Things to Know
Potassium alum crystals are very clear when they are grown slowly. This easiest way to do this is by
Background Information
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material, whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. The scientific study of crystals and crystal formation is crystallography. The process of crystal formation via mechanisms of crystal growth is called crystallization or solidification.
Potassium alum (Aluminum Potassium Sulfate) is the white crystalline natural mineral salt (double sulfate) of potassium which typically occurs as encrustations on rocks in areas of weathering and oxidation of sulfide minerals and potassium-bearing minerals. The crystal alum mineral is commercially extracted in select quarries throughout the world.
Potassium alum is specific chemical compound that is also part of a class of alum chemical compounds. The term alum refers to various double sulfates that have the general formula of (SO4)3•24H2O plus an additional element, such as potassium, which results in potassium alum: KAL (SO4)2•12H2O.
Potassium alum, and alums alike, crystallize in regular octahedral. It is soluble in water, and when heated it liquefies; and if the heating is continued, an unstructured powder will remain. Commonly, potassium alum crystal is colorless and glassy (vitreous), and in its purest form is completely translucent with small fractures.
Potassium alum has been a sought after natural mineral salt for thousands of years due to its abilities to effectively contribute to water purification, pickling, tanning, medical procedures and in cosmetics as an aftershave or deodorant. Potassium alum is antimicrobial and can therefore be used as a natural deodorant by inhibiting the growth of the bacteria responsible for body odor. It is also used in medical procedures as a local astringent and styptic.
Important Things to Know
Potassium alum crystals are very clear when they are grown slowly. This easiest way to do this is by