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 at the University of Dorpat.

Composition

Dragendroff's reagent is a solution of potassium bismuth iodide prepared from basic bismuth nitrate, tartaric acid, and potassium iodide.