5332. Lacmoid

Nomenclature

Resorcin blue; Iris Blue B; Fluorescent Blue; C.I. 51400.

Description and references

Prepn: Traub, Hock, Ber. 17, 2615 (1884); Musso et al., Angew. Chem. 73, 434 (1961). Discussion of structure controversy: H. J. Conn's Biological Stains, R. D. Lillie, Ed. (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 8th ed., 1969) pp 283-284. See also: Colour Index vol. 4 (3rd ed., 1971) p 4468.

Properties

Dark-violet, lustrous scales or granules. Freely sol in methanol, ethanol, amyl alcohol, glacial acetic acid, acetone, phenol. Sparingly sol in water, ether. Practically insol in chloroform, benzene, petr ether.

Use

As acid-base indicator in 0.2% soln in alcohol. pH: 4.4 red; 6.4 blue. Satisfactory for titrating mineral acids, strong bases, many alkaloids; determining alkalinity and temporary hardness in water analysis. Biological stain; dye for wool, silk. Not adapted for carbonates, weak inorganic and organic acids, weak bases. Lacmoid is more sensitive than litmus, particularly in form of test paper.