alum

alum
A double sulfate of aluminum and of an alkaline earth element or ammonium; chemically, an a. is any one of the markedly astringent double salts formed by a combination of a sulfate of aluminum, iron, manganese, chromium, or gallium with a sulfate of lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium, cesium, or rubidium; used locally as styptics. [L. alumen]
- burnt a. SYN: dried a..
- cake a. SYN: aluminum sulfate octadecahydrate.
- chrome a. the sulfate of chromium and potassium; used as a mordant in histologic staining.
- dried a. a. deprived of its water of crystallization by heat; an astringent dusting powder. SYN: burnt a..
- exsiccated a. a. heated to complete dryness; a local astringent.
- whey a. an astringent and styptic preparation made by boiling a. (1 oz.) in milk (10 oz.).

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al·um 'al-əm n
1) either of two colorless or white crystalline double sulfates of aluminum used in medicine internally as emetics and locally as astringents and styptics:
a) one KAl(SO4)2·12H2O that is a sulfate of aluminum and potassium called also potassium alum
b) one consisting of an ammonium aluminum sulfate NH4Al(SO4)2·12H2O called also ammonia alum, ammonium alum
2) any of various double salts isomorphous with potassium aluminum sulfate

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al·um (alґəm) [L. alumen] 1. an odorless, colorless crystalline substance, with local astringent and styptic properties and a sweet taste, prepared from bauxite and sulfuric acid, with the addition of ammonium (ammonium a.) or potassium (potassium a.). It is also used as an adjuvant in adsorbed vaccines and toxoids. 2. any of a group of double sulfates formed on the type of this compound.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Alum — unterscheidet: Alum Branch Alum Cave Branch Alum Cave Creek Alum Cave Run, ein Fluss im US Bundesstaat West Virginia Alum Creek Alum Dirt Branch, ein Fluss im US Bundesstaat Kentucky Alum Fork Alum Fork Saline River, ein Fluss im US Bundesstaat… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • alum — ALUM. s. m. Espece de mineral, certain suc condensé qui se trouve dans les mines. Alum de roche. alum de plume. veines, miniere d alum. alum bruslé. eau d alum. laver un livre dans de l eau d alum …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Alum — Al um, n. [OE. alum, alom, OF. alum, F. alun, fr. L. alumen alum.] (Chem.) A double sulphate formed of aluminium and some other element (esp. an alkali metal) or of aluminium. It has twenty four molecules of water of crystallization. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Alum — Al um, v. t. To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum. Ure. [1913 Webster] || …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • alum — (n.) late 14c., whitish mineral salt used as an astringent, dye, etc., from O.Fr. alum, from L. alumen alum, lit. bitter salt, cognate with Gk. aludoimos bitter and perhaps with English ALE (Cf. ale) …   Etymology dictionary

  • alum — alum1 [al′əm] n. [ME & OFr < L alumen, alum: for IE base see ALE] 1. a double sulfate of a monovalent metal or radical (as sodium, potassium, or ammonium) with a trivalent metal (as aluminum, iron, or chromium): it is used as an astringent, as …   English World dictionary

  • Alum — Alum, Name, so v.w. Alam (s.d.), besonders bei den Großmogulen, so: 1) A. Ghir, so v.w. Aurengzeyb. 2) Schah A. I., Sohn des Vorigen, Großmogul 1707–1711. 3) A. Ghir, Großmogul 1754–1760. 4) Schah A. II., Sohn des Vorigen, Großmogul seit 1759;… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • alum — (Ar., Mur.) m. Alumbre …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • alum — ► NOUN ▪ a crystalline compound consisting of a double sulphate of aluminium and potassium, used in dyeing and tanning. ORIGIN Latin alumen …   English terms dictionary

  • Alum — This article is about the chemical compound. For other uses, see Alum (disambiguation). Bulk alum Alum (  / …   Wikipedia

  • alum — alum1 /al euhm/, n. Chem. 1. Also called potash alum, potassium alum. a crystalline solid, aluminum potassium sulfate, K2SO4·Al2(SO4)3·24H2O, used in medicine as an astringent and styptic, in dyeing and tanning, and in many technical processes. 2 …   Universalium

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