Luminol

For the barbiturate drug Luminal, see phenobarbital.

Luminol[1]
Chemical structure of luminol
Ball-and-stick model of luminol
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
5-Amino-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione
Other names
5-Amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione
o-Aminophthaloyl hydrazide
o-Aminophthalyl hydrazide
3-Aminophthalhydrazide
3-Aminophthalic hydrazide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.007.556 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 208-309-4
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C8H7N3O2/c9-5-3-1-2-4-6(5)8(13)11-10-7(4)12/h1-3H,9H2,(H,10,12)(H,11,13) checkY
    Key: HWYHZTIRURJOHG-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C8H7N3O2/c9-5-3-1-2-4-6(5)8(13)11-10-7(4)12/h1-3H,9H2,(H,10,12)(H,11,13)
    Key: HWYHZTIRURJOHG-UHFFFAOYAB
  • C1=CC2=C(C(=C1)N)C(=O)NNC2=O
Properties
C8H7N3O2
Molar mass 177.16 g/mol
Melting point 319 °C (606 °F; 592 K)
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
2
1
0
Safety data sheet (SDS) MSDS for luminol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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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 hemoglobin. Biologists use it in cellular assays to detect copper, iron, and cyanides as well as specific proteins via western blotting.[2]

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 can be documented photographically. The glow is stronger in areas receiving more spray; the intensity of the glow does not indicate the amount of blood or other activator present.

  1. ^ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 5470.
  2. ^ Khan, Parvez; Idrees, Danish; MOxley, Michael A.; et al. (May 2014). "Luminol-Based Chemiluminescent Signals: Clinical and Non-clinical Application and Future Uses". Applied Biochemical Biotechnology. 173 (2): 333–355. doi:10.1007/s12010-014-0850-1. PMC 4426882. PMID 24752935.