Mayer's reagent is an alkaloidal precipitating reagent used for the detection of alkaloids in natural products. Mayer's reagent is freshly prepared by dissolving a mixture of mercuric chloride (1.36 g) and of potassium iodide (5.00 g) in water (100.0 ml).[1][2] Most alkaloids are precipitated from neutral or slightly acidic solution by Mayer's reagent (potassiomercuric iodide solution) to give a cream coloured precipitate. This test was invented by and named after the German chemist Julius Robert Von Mayer (1814–1878).
References
edit- ^ "Mayer′s reagent". Sigma Aldrich. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
K2HgI4
- ^ "Test Solutions". US Pharmacopeia. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
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