ninhydrin

[ nin-hahy-drin ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a white or yellow, toxic, crystalline or powdery compound, C 9 H 4 O 3 ⋅H 2 O, that reddens when heated above 100°C, a monohydrate, soluble in water or alcohol: used primarily as a reagent to detect the presence of various amino acids.

ninhydrin

/ nɪnˈhaɪdrɪn /

noun

1. a chemical reagent used for the detection and analysis of primary amines, esp amino acids, with which it forms a derivative with an intense purple colour

Word History and Origins

Origin of ninhydrin¹

From German, registered as a trademark for the drug in 1912

Word History and Origins

Origin of ninhydrin¹

C20: from the chemical name triketo hydrindene