For the barbiturate drug Luminal, see phenobarbital.
Luminol[1]
Chemical structure of luminol
Ball-and-stick model of luminol
Names
IUPAC names
5-Amino-2,3-dihydro-
1,4-phthalazinedione
Other names
o-Aminophthaloyl hydrazide
o-Aminophthalyl hydrazide
3-Aminophthalhydrazide
3-Aminophthalic hydrazide
Identifiers
CAS Number
521-31-3 Yes
ChEMBL ChEMBL442329 Yes
ChemSpider 10192 Yes
EC Number 208-309-4
Jmol 3D model Interactive image
PubChem 10638
InChI[show]
SMILES[show]
Properties
Chemical formula
C8H7N3O2
Molar mass 177.16 g/mol
Melting point 319 °C (606 °F; 592 K)
Hazards
Safety data sheet MSDS for luminol
NFPA 704
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond
120
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Yes verify (what is Yes ?)
Infobox references
Luminol (C8H7N3O2) is a chemical that exhibits chemiluminescence, with a blue glow, when mixed with an appropriate oxidizing agent. Luminol is a white-to-pale-yellow crystalline solid that is soluble in most polar organic solvents, but insoluble in water.
Forensic investigators use luminol to detect trace amounts of blood at crime scenes, as it reacts with the iron in haemoglobin. Biologists use it in cellular assays to detect copper, iron, and cyanides, as well as specific proteins by western blot.
When luminol is sprayed evenly across an area, trace amounts of an activating oxidant make the luminol emit a blue glow that can be seen in a darkened room. The glow only lasts about 30 seconds, but investigators can document the effect with a long-exposure photograph. Crime scene investigators must apply it evenly to avoid misleading results, as blood traces appear more concentrated in areas that receive more spray. The intensity of the glow does not indicate the amount of blood or other activator present, but only shows the distribution of trace amounts of in the area