Amidol

Amidol[1]
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
2,4-Diaminophenol
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.002.237 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 202-459-4
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C6H8N2O/c7-4-1-2-6(9)5(8)3-4/h1-3,9H,7-8H2 checkY
    Key: XIWMTQIUUWJNRP-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C6H8N2O/c7-4-1-2-6(9)5(8)3-4/h1-3,9H,7-8H2
    Key: XIWMTQIUUWJNRP-UHFFFAOYAD
  • NC1=CC(N)=C(O)C=C1
  • Oc1ccc(N)cc1N
Properties
C6H8N2O
Molar mass 124.14 g/mol
Appearance Colorless solid
Melting point 78 to 80 °C (172 to 176 °F; 351 to 353 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Amidol is a colorless crystalline compound with the molecular structure C6H3(NH2)2OH. It is a dihydrogen chloride salt and is used as a photographic developer. It was introduced as a developing agent for photographic papers in 1892. It is unusual amongst developing agents as it works most effectively in slightly acid conditions rather than the strongly alkaline conditions required for most other developers. As amidol ages it changes color to a dark red-brown. Developing dishes and equipment used to prepare amidol solutions are also frequently stained brown, a stain that is very persistent.

Prints developed in amidol are typically a very warm brown-black color, but overdevelopment can quickly lead to chemical fogging.

Amidol's color change upon oxidation is used to advantage as a convenient colorimetric method for measuring the dissolved oxygen concentration in water supplies, rivers, etc.[2]

  1. ^ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 2961.
  2. ^ Westfall and Ellis (1848). "Determination of Water Quality". U.S. Govt. Printing Office. p. 21.