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Marquis reagent

{{Short description|Mixture for identifying alkaloids}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}

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.{{cite web|title=Color Test Reagents/Kits for Preliminary Identification of Drugs of Abuse|url=http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/183258.pdf|work=Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing Program|access-date=2011-07-24|date=July 2000}}{{rp|12}} Different compounds produce different color reactions. Methanol may be added to slow down the reaction process to allow better observation of the colour change.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

History

Marquis reagent was first discovered in 1896[https://books.google.com/books?id=LRMlBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA247 Toxicology. Volume 2 : mechanisms and analytical methods] — New York, New York; San Francisco, California : Academic Press, 1961 — p. 247. and described by the Russian (Estonian) pharmacologist, Eduard Markus (1871–1944) ({{langx|ru|Эдуард Маркус}})[http://www.iemrams.spb.ru/russian/library/Diss-Derpt-Univ.docx Каталог диссертаций Дерптского Университета с 1811 по 1914 гг.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054011/http://www.iemrams.spb.ru/russian/library/Diss-Derpt-Univ.docx |date=4 March 2016 }} // Ин-т экспериментальной медицины in his magister dissertation in 1896;Markus, Eduard. [http://dspace.utlib.ee/dspace/bitstream/handle/10062/5807/marquis_verbleib.pdf 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 named after him,Юрген Торвальд [http://coollib.com/b/259526/read Сто лет криминалистики] — М: Прогресс, 1974 and was tested for the first time at the University of Dorpat. The reagent should be stored in the freezer for maximum shelf life.{{Cite web|url=https://elevationchemicals.com/pages/faq|title=FAQ|website=ElevationChemicals|access-date=2018-12-02}}

File:Marquis Reagent.jpg

It is the primary presumptive test used in Ecstasy reagent testing kits. It can also be used to test for such substances as opiates (e.g. codeine, heroin), and phenethylamines (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.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Marquis reagent test analysis

Substance

! Color

! Time (s)

! Notes

MDMA or MDA

| style="background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #532677, #000000); color:white" | purple to black

| 0–5

May have dark purple tint
Amphetamine, or methamphetamine

| style="background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #f07d30, #000000); color:white" | orange to brown

| 0–5

May have a brown tint
2C-B

| style="background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #f4ee00,#005109);" | yellow to green

| 5–10

Color may change from initial result{{Cite web |url=https://www.reagent-tests.uk/reagent-test-colours/ |title=Reagent Testing Instructions |access-date=21 December 2016}}
DXM

| style="background-image: linear-gradient(to right, #aaaaaa, #000000); color:white" | gray to black

| 15–30

Initially no change; takes much longer to reach black than MDMA

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Final colors produced by Marquis Reagent with various substances{{rp|3–6}}{{cite conference | url=https://www.nist.gov/oles/upload/Color-Tests-and-Analytical-Difficulties-with-Emerging-Drugs-Morris.pdf | title=Color Tests and Analytical Difficulties with Emerging Drugs | publisher=NIST | access-date=10 May 2014 | author=Morris, Jeremiah | location=Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Criminalistics Laboratory | pages=36}}

Substance

! Color

βk-2C-BBright orange 30min
2C-BGreen-yellow 30min
2C-IGreen-yellow 30min
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-bromoamphetamine (DOB)Olive green – yellow
2-FMARapidly fizzes and dissolves. Colourless/light yellow{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}
25I-NBOMeOrange{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}
25C-NBOMeClear, Transparent{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}
25B-NBOMeDark green{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}
4F-MPHTransparent, no reaction{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}
5-EAPBPurple to black{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}
5-MeO-MiPTClear/light brown{{cite web|title=EcstasyData 5-MeO-MiPT|url=http://www.ecstasydata.org/view.php?id=3590|website=EcstasyData}}
AspirinPink > deep red{{cite web|title=Controlled Substances Procedures Manual|url=http://www.dfs.virginia.gov/manuals/controlledsubstances/procedures/221-d100%20controlled%20substances%20procedures%20manual.pdf|work=Virginia Department of Forensic Science|access-date=2013-08-06|year=2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813124334/http://www.dfs.virginia.gov/manuals/controlledSubstances/procedures/221-D100%20Controlled%20Substances%20Procedures%20Manual.pdf|archive-date=13 August 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Color Test Reagents/Kits for Preliminary Identification of Drugs of Abuse|url=http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/183258.pdf|work=Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing Program|access-date=2011-07-24| date=July 2000 }}{{Cite journal | last1 = O’Neal | first1 = C. L. | last2 = Crouch | first2 = D. J. | last3 = Fatah | first3 = A. A. | doi = 10.1016/S0379-0738(99)00235-2 | title = Validation of twelve chemical spot tests for the detection of drugs of abuse | journal = Forensic Science International | volume = 109 | issue = 3 | pages = 189–201 | year = 2000 | pmid = 10725655}}
AdrafinilDeep reddish orange – dark reddish brown{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}
BenzphetamineDeep reddish brown
Benzylpiperazine(BZP)Clear (fizzes)
BuprenorphinePinkish violet
Butylonestyle="background:#EDCF00; color:black" | Yellow
ChlorpromazineDeep purplish red
CodeineVery dark purple
CaffeineTransparent, no change
CocaineTransparent, no change
d-AmphetamineStrong reddish orange – dark reddish brown
d-MethamphetamineDeep reddish orange – dark reddish brown
Diacetylmorphine (Heroin)Deep purplish red
Dimethoxy-4-amylamphetamine (DMAA)No color change (fizzes)
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)Orange
Diphenhydramine (DPH)Yellow/orange > brown{{Cite journal |last1=Johns |first1=S. H. |last2=Wist |first2=A. A. |last3=Najam |first3=A. R. |date=1979-07-01 |title=Spot Tests: A Color Chart Reference for Forensic Chemists |url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b3d1/dc915600850d20e40b318541b4cbbd66274d.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225055729/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b3d1/dc915600850d20e40b318541b4cbbd66274d.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-02-25 |journal=Journal of Forensic Sciences |language=en |volume=24 |issue=3 |pages=631 |doi=10.1520/JFS10882J|s2cid=68755072 }}
Dimethoxymethamphetamine HCL (DMMA)Moderate olive
DoxepinBlackish red
DristanDark grayish red
ExedrineDark red
LSDClear (no reaction), charring of paper may occur {{cite web |title=Marquis and LSD: Is color change visible? |url=https://erowid.org/columns/crew/2015/06/marquis-and-lsd-is-color-change-visible/ |website=Erowid |access-date=31 March 2024}}
MethoxetamineSlow pink
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA)Dark purple – black
Methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine (MDEA)Dark purple – black
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)Dark purple – black
Methylenedioxypropylamphetamine (MDPR)Dark purple – black
Methylone (M1/bk-MDMA/MDMC)style="background:#EDCF00; color:black" |Yellow
Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)Yellow
Pethidine/MeperidineDeep brown
MescalineStrong orange
MethadoneLight yellowish pink
MethylphenidateModerate orange yellow
Methylene BlueDark green
ModafinilYellow/orange – brown{{cite journal | title = Analytical Profile of Modafinil | journal = Microgram Journal | date = 2004 | first = Jeremiah | last = Morris | volume = 3 | issue = 1–2 | pages = 28| url = http://www.erowid.org/library/periodicals/microgram/microgram_journal_2005-1.pdf#page=54 | format = PDF | access-date = 2013-10-09}}
MorphineDeep purplish red
OpiumDark grayish reddish brown
OxycodonePale violet
PropoxypheneBlackish purple
SugarDark 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.{{cite web | url = http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm/courses/CHEM2402/Crime/Reagent_Kits.html | title = Unit 9: Crime - Reagent Kits | access-date = 2014-03-17 | last = Lancashire | first = Robert J. | date = 2011-10-13 | publisher = University of the West Indies, Mona Campus}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/mdma/mdma_faq_testing_kits.shtml Marquis reagent colors list, very comprehensive]
  • [https://wimscilabs.com/product/marquis-reagent/ Marquis Reagent Testing Kit - WIM Scientific Laboratories]
  • [http://www.dhpforum.nl/wiki/index.php/Marquis_Reagent_%28English_Version%29 DHPedia - Marquis reagent: A comprehensive list of colour reactions]

Category:Chemical tests

Category:Analytical reagents

Category:Drug testing reagents

Category:Formaldehyde