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Glite Dictionary
ammonium alum

ammonium alum

8.2
A white crystal used to clean water and help dye stick to cloth
  • noun
  • /əˈmɒn.i.əm ˈæl.əm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : alumbre de amonio
  • Industrial textile processes often use ammonium alum to enhance dye adherence.

Examples

  • Many industries rely on ammonium alum for water purification processes.

  • Industrial textile processes often use ammonium alum as a mordant.

  • The laboratory ordered more ammonium alum for the next set of experiments.

  • You should wear gloves when handling ammonium alum to avoid skin irritation.

  • The chemist used ammonium alum in the experiment.

  • Many industries rely on ammonium alum for purification.

  • The laboratory ordered more ammonium alum to ensure sufficient supply for the upcoming tests.

Synonyms

ammonia alum
vsammonium alum
  • Specialized
7.9

A white crystal salt used to fix dye on cloth and to clean water

includes those uses but also covers other industrial applications

Surface Forms

ammonium alum singular
ammonium alums plural

Morphology

ammonium + alum

The compound is transparently built from its constituents: 'ammonium' names the cation and 'alum' names the class of double-sulfate salts, so an English speaker who knows both words can infer this is an alum containing ammonium. This follows standard noun–noun and chemical naming patterns (an alum of ammonium), so the basic meaning is directly derivable even if the learner lacks detailed chemical knowledge.

Etymology

Ammonium alum gets its name from two parts: ammonium (from ammonia) and alum (a common white salt used by dyers). That's why the name tells you it is a kind of alum that contains ammonium and why people use it for 'dyeing' and 'water purification'.