What do you mean by the term alum

Question

What do you mean by the term alum? Also illustrate its uses?

Answer 1

Alum is the chemical (that is, aluminum potassium sulphate); it tends to be whitish powder with many uses, comprising:

a) As an astringent.
b) As an anti-bacterial
c) As a food preservative.
d) As the Styptic pencil to heal the shaving cuts.
e) To stem the flow of minor blood cuts and loss.
f) Soaked to the materials to make them flame retardant.