Chapter 34. Lab VIII-2 Detect Alkaloid Poisons with Dragendorff’s Reagent

Equipment and Materials

You’ll need the following items to complete this lab session. (The FK01 Forensic Science Kit for this book, available from http://www.thehomescientist.com, includes the items listed in the first group.)

Materials from Kit

  • Goggles

  • Dragendorff’s reagent

  • Centrifuge tubes, 15 mL

  • Centrifuge tubes, 50 mL

  • Chromatography paper

  • Hydrochloric acid

  • Pipettes

  • Ruler

  • Spot plate

  • Test tubes

  • Test tube rack

  • Specimen: caffeine

  • Specimen: poppy seeds

Materials you Provide

  • Gloves

  • Cotton swabs

  • Pencil

  • Scissors

  • Toothpicks, plastic

  • UV light source (optional)

  • Water, distilled or deionized

  • Specimen(s): alkaloids (optional; see text)

Warning

Dragendorff’s reagent is corrosive and toxic. Hydrochloric acid ...

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