Benzidine
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This 1930s encyclopedia article describes benzidine, a chemical compound used in dye production and as a sensitive analytical reagent for detecting blood and testing the purity of chloroform. It details the physical properties of the powder and its specific chemical applications.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
BENZIDINE, paradiamino-diphenyl, NH2<( )—( )NH2, a pinkish or grayish odorless powder, sparingly soluble in cold water, somewhat more easily in hot water, and soluble in alcohol and ether. Benzidine is a starting product for the production of a number of dyes; it is used as a reagent: 1) for determining the presence of blood in stains, urine, feces, gastric juice, vomit, and water; the sensitivity of the reaction is 1:100,000 (Autenrieth); the reaction is also given by other oxidizing substances, as well as certain metal salts; 2) when testing the purity of chloroform for anesthesia (Pharmacopoeia VII).
Related articles
Mentioned in
Cite this page
“Benzidine.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/benzidine/