Common Name:

• Cake alum

• Filter alum

• Papermaker's alum

• Alunogenite

• Aluminum salt

IUPAC Name: Aluminum Sulfate

Molecular Formula: Al2(SO4)3

Molecular Structure: 

     An aluminum sulfate atom is comprised of a metal and a nonmetal, which makes it an ionic compound. In an ionic compound the metal transfers its electrons to the nonmetal in order to fill both valence shells. Oxygen and sulfur each have two bonding pairs and two lone pairs. Aluminum has three bonding electrons. When bonded, the atoms arrange themselves in a tetrahedral and a linear shape. The atoms arrange this way in order to minimize repulsion, as stated in the VSEPR theory. Forces present in aluminum sulfate include van der waal forces and london forces. These forces are present in everything because while van der waal forces control physical behaviour, london forces deal with momentary dipoles. Aluminum sulfate is classifies as an acid because its pH is 3.3.