Synthesis of Luminol.

Molecular representation of Luminol chemoluminescence reaction.

Luminol is a chemical used by forensic investigators to detect blood. synthesis of luminol This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... synthesis of luminol This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... molecular representation of chemoluminescence in luminol This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... molecular representation of chemoluminescence in luminol This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... A chemical substance is any material substance used in or obtained by a process in chemistry: A chemical compound is a substance consisting of two or more chemical elements that are chemically combined in fixed proportions. ... Forensics or forensic science is the application of science to questions which are of interest to the legal system. ... Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are present in the blood and help carry oxygen to the rest of the cells in the body Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). ...

• formula:C₈H₇N₃O₂
• CAS number: 521-31-3

Synonyms

• 5-Amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione [521-31-3]
• o-aminophthaloyl hydrazide
• o-aminophthalyl hydrazide
• 3-Aminophthalhydrazide
• 3-aminophthalic hydrazide

Use by Crime Scene Investigators

Theory

Luminol is used by crime scene investigators to locate occult blood, even if it has been cleaned or removed. Using its natural property of chemiluminescence, it luminesces upon reacting with hydrogen peroxide. Iron in hemoglobin, a pigment present in blood, is provided as a catalyst in the luminescence. The glow lasts for about 30 seconds and is blue. Detecting the glow requires a fairly dark room. Any glow detected is documented by a long exposure photograph. A detective is an officer of the police who performs criminal or administrative investigations, in some police departments, the lowest rank among such investigators (above the lowest rank of officers and below sergeants), a civilian licensed to investigate information not readily available in public records (a private investigator, also called... Lightsticks Chemoluminescence (sometimes chemiluminescence) is the emission of light (luminescence) as the result of a chemical reaction. ... Luminescence is light not generated by high temperatures alone. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Atomic mass 55. ... 3-dimensional structure of hemoglobin. ... Luminescence is light not generated by high temperatures alone. ... A camera. ...

Drawbacks

Nevertheless, Luminol has drawbacks that can keep it from detecting just blood that has been shed in a crime:

• Luminol also fluoresces in the presence of copper or an alloy of copper, certain bleaches and horseradish.

• Luminol will also detect the small amounts of blood present in urine and it can be distorted if animal blood was present in the room that is being tested.

• Luminol presence may prevent other tests to be performed on a piece of evidence. However, it has been shown that DNA can be successfully extracted from samples treated with luminol reagent.

• Luminol is listed as possible carcinogen but has not yet been proven as such.

Chemoluminescence of Luminol.

General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic brown Atomic mass 63. ... In chemistry, to bleach something generally means to whiten it or oxidize it. ... Binomial name Armoracia rusticana P.G. Gaertn. ... Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are present in the blood and help carry oxygen to the rest of the cells in the body Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). ... Urine is liquid waste excreted by the kidneys and is produced by the process of filtration. ... In pathology, a carcinogen is any substance or agent that promotes cancer. ... image from Penn state haloween chemistry show [1] This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... image from Penn state haloween chemistry show [1] This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

Other uses

• Medical: Used to conduct biochemical assays
• Amusement: Glowing light sticks
• Education: Getting young people interested in science

Details on using luminol to show light: Add 5 mL of luminol solution to 15 mL of luminol activator solution. The ratio of luminol solution to luminol activator determines the intensity and the duration of the blue light produced. The 1:3 ratio suggested here produces a relatively bright light of short duration. Using more luminol solution and less luminol activator produces a dimmer blue light of longer duration. These solutions are available at a local science supplier.

External links

• Synthesis of Luminol
• Technical note about Hemaglow™
• HowStuffWorks "How Luminol Works"