Marquis reagent is used as a simple spot-test to presumptively identify alkaloids as well as other compounds. It is composed of a mixture of formaldehyde and concentrated sulfuric acid, which is dripped onto the substance being tested. The United States Department of Justice method for producing the reagent is the addition of 100 mL of concentrated (95–98%) sulfuric acid to 5 mL of 40% formaldehyde.
History
Marquis reagent was first discovered and tested in 1896 by pharmacologist
Eduard Marquis (1871–1944), then a student of
Rudolf Kobert at the University of Dorpat (in
Tartu, Estonia).
[ Toxicology. Volume 2 : mechanisms and analytical methods — New York, New York; San Francisco, California : Academic Press, 1961 — p. 247.] The reagent was described by Marquis in his Master of Pharmacy
dissertation in 1896
[Marquis, Eduard. Über den Verbleib des Morphin im tierischen Organismus. Magister Dissertation 1896, Jurjew, Arb. Der Pharm. Inst. zu Dorpat 15, 117 (1896);]
Pharmazeutische Zentralhalle für Deutschland., 814 (1896);
Pharmazeutische Zeitschrift für Russland. 38, 549 (1896). and subsequently named after him.
The reagent should be stored in the freezer for maximum shelf life.
It is the primary presumptive test used in Ecstasy reagent testing kits. It can also be used to test for such substances as (e.g. codeine, heroin), and (e.g. 2C-B, mescaline).
The test is performed by scraping off a small amount of the substance and adding a drop of the reagent (which is initially clear and colorless). The results are analyzed by viewing the color of the resulting mixture, and by the time taken for the change in color to become apparent:
Results
Reagent test results develop very quickly and due to reactions with moisture and oxygen in air, any changes after the first 60 seconds should be discarded.
| + Marquis reagent test analysis |
|
| MDMA or MDA | purple to black | May have dark purple tint |
| Amphetamine, or methamphetamine | orange to brown | May have a brown tint |
| 2C-B | yellow to green | Color may change from initial result |
| DXM | gray to black | Initially no change; takes much longer to reach black than MDMA |
+ Final colors produced by Marquis Reagent with various substances |
|
| Bright orange 30min |
| Green-yellow 30min |
| Green-yellow 30min |
| Olive green – yellow |
| Rapidly fizzes and dissolves. Colourless/light yellow |
| Orange |
| Clear, Transparent |
| Dark green |
| Transparent, no reaction |
| Purple to black |
Clear/light brown |
Pink > deep red |
| Deep reddish orange – dark reddish brown |
| Deep reddish brown |
| Clear (fizzes) |
| Pinkish violet |
Yellow |
| Deep purplish red |
| Very dark purple |
| Transparent, no change |
| Transparent, no change |
| Strong reddish orange – dark reddish brown |
| Deep reddish orange – dark reddish brown |
| Deep purplish red |
| No color change (fizzes) |
| Orange |
Yellow/orange > brown |
| Moderate olive |
| Blackish red |
| Dark grayish red |
| Dark red |
Clear (no reaction), charring of paper may occur |
Slow pink |
| Dark purple – black |
| Dark purple – black |
| Dark purple – black |
| Dark purple – black |
| Yellow |
| Yellow |
| Deep brown |
| Strong orange |
| Light yellowish pink |
| Moderate orange yellow |
| Dark green |
Yellow/orange – brown |
| Deep purplish red |
| Dark grayish reddish brown |
| Pale violet |
| Blackish purple |
| Dark brown |
Mechanism
The colour change from morphine is proposed to be a result of two molecules of morphine and two molecules of formaldehyde condensing to the dimeric product which is protonated to the oxocarbenium salt.
See also
External links
