Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
ammonia alum

ammonia alum

7.9
A white crystal salt used to fix dye on cloth and to clean water
  • noun
  • /əˈmoʊniə ælʌm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : alumbre de amonio
  • The textile industry uses ammonia alum as a mordant in the dyeing process.

Examples

  • When dissolved in water, ammonia alum yields a clear, acidic solution.

  • Ammonia alum can be identified by its white crystalline appearance and solubility in water.

  • The chemist used ammonia alum for the experiment.

  • Many textile manufacturers rely on ammonia alum for dyeing.

  • In the dyeing process, ammonia alum acts as a mordant, helping the colors to bond well with the fabric.

  • Textile companies often choose ammonia alum for its effectiveness in producing vibrant and long-lasting colors.

  • When preparing a water purification solution, ammonia alum is included for its ability to clarify and improve water quality.

Synonyms

ammonium alum
vsammonia alum
  • Specialized
8.2

A white crystal used to clean water and help dye stick to cloth

is the same compound but described for dyeing and water purification only

Surface Forms

ammonia alum singular
ammonia alums plural

Morphology

ammonia + alum

A learner who knows 'ammonia' and 'alum' can infer this refers to a chemical substance related to both constituents (i.e., an alum associated with ammonia), so the general idea of a chemical compound is compositional. However, the precise identity (the ammonium double sulfate of aluminum), its crystalline form and specific industrial uses are technical details not predictable from the words alone, so the transparency is partial.

Etymology

Ammonia alum gets its name from how it was made: people combined ammonia with ordinary alum to make the white crystals. Because it is literally a mix of those two parts, the name describes the compound now used 'to fix colors' in dyeing and to help 'clean water' in purification.