About
矾 is a phono-semantic compound meaning sulfate minerals, especially alum. Its simplified form combines the semantic radical 石 (stone/mineral) with the phonetic component 凡 (fán). The traditional character, 礬, places the phonetic element 樊 above 石. In chemistry and traditional medicine, 矾 identifies compounds like aluminum potassium sulfate and appears in terms for mineral salts used in dyeing and purification.