Luminol

For the barbiturate drug Luminal, see phenobarbital.

Luminol[1]
IUPAC name 5-Amino-2,3-dihydro- 1,4-phthalazinedione
Other names o-Aminophthaloyl hydrazide o-Aminophthalyl hydrazide 3-Aminophthalhydrazide 3-Aminophthalic hydrazide
Identifiers
CAS number	521-31-3 Y
PubChem	10638
ChemSpider	10192 Y
EC number	208-309-4
ChEMBL	CHEMBL442329 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES c1cc2c(c(c1)N)c(=O)[nH][nH]c2=O
InChI 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) Y Key: HWYHZTIRURJOHG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y 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
Properties
Molecular formula	C8H7N3O2
Molar mass	177.16 g/mol
Melting point	319 °C, 592 K, 606 °F
Hazards
MSDS	MSDS for luminol
NFPA 704	1 2 0
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Luminol (C₈H₇N₃O₂) is a versatile chemical that exhibits chemiluminescence, with a striking blue glow, when mixed with an appropriate oxidizing agent. It is a white to slightly yellow crystalline solid that is soluble in most polar organic solvents, but insoluble in water.

Luminol is used by forensic investigators to detect trace amounts of blood left at crime scenes as it reacts with iron found in hemoglobin. It is used by biologists in cellular assays for the detection of copper, iron, and cyanides, in addition to the detection of specific proteins by Western Blot.

For analysis of an area, luminol can be sprayed evenly across the area, and trace amounts of an activating oxidant will cause the luminol to emit a blue glow that can be seen in a darkened room. The glow lasts for about 30 seconds, but the effect can be documented by a long-exposure photograph. It is important that the spraying be evenly applied to avoid creating a slanted, or biased impression, such as blood traces appearing to be more concentrated in areas which received more spray. The intensity of the glow does not indicate the original amount present, but only the distribution of trace amounts of substances left in the area.

Synthesis

Luminol may be synthesized by a reverse phosphorescence 2-step process. It begins from 3-nitrophthalic acid.^[2][3] First, hydrazine (N₂H₄) is heated with the 3-nitrophthalic acid in a high-boiling solvent such as triethylene glycol. A condensation reaction occurs, with loss of water, forming 3-nitrophthalhydrazide. Reduction of the nitro group to an amino group with sodium dithionite (Na₂S₂O₄) produces luminol.

The product luminol is obtained the after addition of electrons from the dithionite, protonation, and a loss of water from the intermediate hydroxylamine. Luminol was first synthesized in Germany in 1902, but the compound was not named luminol until the late 1920s.

Chemiluminescence

Chemiluminescence of luminol

To exhibit its luminescence, the luminol must first be activated with an oxidant. Usually, a solution of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and a hydroxide salt in water is used as the activator. In the presence of a catalyst such as an iron compound, the hydrogen peroxide is decomposed to form oxygen and water:

2 H₂O₂ → O₂ + 2 H₂O

In a laboratory setting, the catalyst used is often potassium ferricyanide. In the forensic detection of blood, the catalyst is the iron present in hemoglobin. Enzymes in a variety of biological systems may also catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.

When luminol reacts with the hydroxide salt, a dianion is formed. The oxygen produced from the hydrogen peroxide then reacts with the luminol dianion. The product of this reaction, an organic peroxide, is very unstable and is made by losing a nitrogen, electrons going from excited state to ground state, and energy emitting as a photon. This emitting of the photon is what ultimately gives off the blue light.

Use by crime scene investigators

Theory

Luminol is used by crime scene investigators to locate traces of blood, even if it has been cleaned or removed. The investigator prepares a solution of luminol and the activator and sprays it throughout the area under investigation. The iron present in any blood in the area catalyzes the chemical reaction that leads to the luminescence revealing the location of the blood. The amount of catalyst necessary for the reaction to occur is very small relative to the amount of luminol, allowing the detection of even trace amounts of blood. The glow lasts for about 30 seconds and is blue. Detecting the glow requires a fairly dark room. Any glow detected may be documented by a long exposure photograph.

Drawbacks

Luminol has some drawbacks that may limit its use in a crime scene investigation:

• Luminol chemiluminescence can also be triggered by a number of substances such as copper or copper-containing alloys, and certain bleaches; and, as a result, if a crime scene is thoroughly cleaned with a bleach solution or horseradish, residual cleaner will cause the entire crime scene to produce the typical blue glow, effectively camouflaging any organic evidence, such as blood.
• Luminol will also detect the small amounts of blood present in urine, and it can be distorted if animal blood is present in the room that is being tested.
• Luminol reacts with fecal matter, causing the same glow as if it were blood.
• Luminol's presence may prevent other tests from being performed on a piece of evidence. However, it has been shown that DNA can be successfully extracted from samples treated with luminol reagent.^[4]

Related molecules

Luminol: 5-Amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione ; 3-Amino-phthalhydrazide ; 1,4-phthalazinedione, 5-amino-2,3-dihydro ; CAS: [521-31-3] C8H7N3O2 - MW: 177.16 λabs.(in 0.1 N NaOH) λmax 1 : 347 nm & λmax 2 : 300 nm; EC(at λmax 1): 7650 L/mol x cm λabs./λem.(MetOH): 355/413 nm

Luminol, hemihydrate 3-Amino-phthalhydrazide Na salt; CAS: [206658-90-4] C8H6N3O2Na.1/2H2O - MW: 217.16

Luminol, Na salt: 3-Amino-phthalhydrazide Na salt; CAS: [20666-12-0] C8H6N3O2Na - MW: 199.12

Luminol, HCl: 3-Amino-phthalhydrazide HydroChloride; CAS: [74165-64-3] C8H7N3O2.HCl - MW: 213.62

isoluminol: 4-Aminophthalhydrazide; CAS: [3682-14-1] C8H7N3O2 – MW: 117.16 (Xi)

isoluminol, monohydrate: 4-Aminophthalhydrazide monohydrate C8H7N3O2.H2O - MW: 195.15

isoluminol ABEI: 4-Aminophthalhydrazide monohydrate; CAS: [66612-29-1]

See also

• fluorescin converted to fluorescein
• Diphenyl oxalate

References

1. ^ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 5470.
2. ^ Ernest Huntress, Lester Stanley, Almon Parker (1934). "The Preparation of 3-Aminophthalhydrazide for Use in the Demonstration of Chemiluminescence". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 56 (1): 241–242. doi:10.1021/ja01316a077. 
3. ^ Synthesis of luminol
4. ^ Technical note about Hemaglow

External links

• HowStuffWorks "How Luminol Works"
• Luminol demonstration in Turin