Luminol A specialist examining surfaces for traces of blood using luminol. (more) luminol chemical compound Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/luminol Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/luminol Written by Jennifer Murtoff Jennifer Murtoff is a bilingual English-Spanish publishing professional with a master’s degree in Hispanic linguistics. Jennifer Murtoff Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Oct 30, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question luminol, chemical compound that emits a blue fluorescent light when it reacts with certain oxidizing agents. Luminol is most widely known for its application in forensic science, in which it is used to detect the presence of blood at crime scenes. The chemical formula of luminol is C8H7N3O2. It is produced by heating 3-nitrophthalic acid mixed with hydrazine; subsequent heating and reduction reactions culminate in a compound containing a hydrazide functional group. It is thus classified in the hydrazine family of chemical compounds. Luminol powder is produced by precipitating the substance out of solution by the addition of glacial acetic ...(100 of 683 words)

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