How Do You Spell CHROME ALUM?

Pronunciation: [kɹˈə͡ʊm ˈaləm] (IPA)

Chrome alum, a chemical compound often used in tanning and dyeing, has a curious spelling. Its first syllable is pronounced /krəʊm/ (rhyming with 'home'), indicating the element chromium, while the second syllable is pronounced /æləm/ (rhyming with 'column'), indicating the compound alum. This may seem confusing, as one would expect the syllables to be reciprocal (/krəʊm/ and /alum/), but it reflects historical usage and convention. In any case, it's important to spell the word correctly to avoid misunderstandings in chemical contexts.

CHROME ALUM Meaning and Definition

  1. Chrome alum is a chemical compound with the formula KCr(SO4)2·12H2O, most commonly known as potassium chromium sulfate. It is a double salt that consists of chrome(III) ions, potassium ions, and sulfate ions. The compound forms large, colorless crystals that are soluble in water.

    Chrome alum is primarily used in various industries and chemical processes. It is commonly employed in the tanning industry for the production of leather goods, where it assists in the tanning process by cross-linking the proteins within the animal hide. This results in a durable and long-lasting material.

    It is also utilized in the field of photography, particularly in the preparation of photographic materials. Chrome alum acts as a mordant, helping to fix and stabilize photographic dyes or pigments on the paper and improve their color rendition and longevity.

    Furthermore, chrome alum finds applications as a catalyst in the synthesis of certain organic compounds and as an ingredient in the manufacturing of various types of catalysts. In the field of analytical chemistry, it is commonly used as a reagent for the determination of ammonia and phosphate ions.

    While chrome alum possesses various industrial uses, it should be handled with caution due to its toxic and irritant properties. Ingestion or prolonged exposure can lead to harmful effects on the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, and skin. Therefore, appropriate safety measures must be implemented during its handling and storage.

  2. The sulphate of chromium and potassium, a violet pigment.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for CHROME ALUM

  • xhrome alum
  • vhrome alum
  • fhrome alum
  • dhrome alum
  • cgrome alum
  • cbrome alum
  • cnrome alum
  • cjrome alum
  • curome alum
  • cyrome alum
  • cheome alum
  • chdome alum
  • chfome alum
  • chtome alum
  • ch5ome alum
  • ch4ome alum
  • chrime alum
  • chrkme alum
  • chrlme alum

Etymology of CHROME ALUM

The word "chrome alum" has its etymology rooted in Ancient Greek and Latin.

The term "chrome" derives from the Greek word "chroma", which means color. The word was later borrowed into Latin as "chromium".

The word "alum", on the other hand, comes from the Latin word "alumen", which means "bitter salt".

When combined, "chrome alum" refers to a chemical compound that contains chromium and falls into the category of alums, which are double sulfates of a monovalent metal (such as potassium or ammonium) and a trivalent metal (such as aluminum or chromium).

Similar spelling word for CHROME ALUM

Plural form of CHROME ALUM is CHROME ALUMS

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