The term alum is used for all the double sulphates having the composition, $M _{2} SO _{4} .M _{2}'\left( SO _{4}\right)_{3}$
$24 H _{2} O$, where $M$ stands for monovalent basic radicals such $Na ^{+}, K ^{+}$ etc. and $M '$ for trivalent basic radicals such as $A l ^{3+}, Cr ^{3+}$ etc.