Dragendorff's reagent

Dragendorff's reagent is a color reagent to detect alkaloids in a test sample. Alkaloids, if present in the solution of sample, will react with Dragendorff's reagent and produce an orange or orange-red precipitate. This reagent was invented by the German pharmacologist, Johann Georg Dragendorff (1836–1898) at the University of Dorpat. Dragendorff's reagent is a color reagent to detect alkaloids in a test sample. Alkaloids, if present in the solution of sample, will react with Dragendorff's reagent and produce an orange or orange-red precipitate. This reagent was invented by the German pharmacologist, Johann Georg Dragendorff (1836–1898) at the University of Dorpat. Dragendroff's reagent is a solution of potassium bismuth iodide prepared from basic bismuth nitrate (Bi(NO3)3), tartaric acid, and potassium iodide (KI).