Medical Dictionary

alum

noun al·um \ˈal-əm\

Medical Definition of ALUM

1
:  either of two colorless or white crystalline double sulfates of aluminum used in medicine internally as emetics and locally as astringents and styptics: a :  one KAl(SO4)2·12H2O that is a sulfate of aluminum and potassium—called also potassium alum b :  one consisting of an ammonium aluminum sulfate NH4Al(SO4)2·12H2O—called also ammonia alum, ammonium alum
2
:  any of various double salts isomorphous with potassium aluminum sulfate
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