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alum
(redirected from Alum compounds)

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
al·um 1  (lm)
n.
Any of various double sulfates of a trivalent metal such as aluminum, chromium, or iron and a univalent metal such as potassium or sodium, especially hydrous aluminum potassium sulfate, AlK(SO4)2·12H2O, widely used in industry as clarifiers, hardeners, and purifiers and medicinally as topical astringents and styptics.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin almen.]

a·lum 2  (-lm)
n. Informal
An alumna or alumnus.

alum [ˈæləm]
n
1. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) Also called potash alum a colourless soluble hydrated double sulphate of aluminium and potassium used in the manufacture of mordants and pigments, in dressing leather and sizing paper, and in medicine as a styptic and astringent. Formula: K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O
2. (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) any of a group of isomorphic double sulphates of a monovalent metal or group and a trivalent metal. Formula: X2SO4.Y2(SO4)3.24H2O, where X is monovalent and Y is trivalent
[from Old French, from Latin alūmen]

alum  (lm)
Any of various crystalline double salts of a trivalent metal (such as aluminum, chromium, or iron) and a monovalent metal (such as potassium or sodium), especially aluminum potassium sulfate. Alum is widely used in industry as a hardener and purifier, and in medicine as an emetic and to stop bleeding.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.alum - a white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the ammonium double sulfate of aluminum
Al, aluminium, aluminum, atomic number 13 - a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
double salt - a solution of two simple salts that forms a single substance on crystallization
2.alum - a white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the potassium double sulfate of aluminum
Al, aluminium, aluminum, atomic number 13 - a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
double salt - a solution of two simple salts that forms a single substance on crystallization
3.alum - a person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)alum - a person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)
Ivy Leaguer - a student or graduate at an Ivy League school
old boy - a former male pupil of a school
bookman, scholar, scholarly person, student - a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
4.alum - a double sulphate of aluminum and potassium that is used as an astringent (among other things)
astringent, astringent drug, styptic - a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals
Translations
alum [ˈæləm] Nalumbre m
alum
nAlaun m


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