ninhydrin
2
9.5
- noun
- /nɪnˈhaɪdrɪn/
- Specialized
- The content of proline and total soluble sugars were measured using ninhydrin and anthrone, respectively, according to Zhu et al. (1983). Data analysis: All parameters were analyzed.
Examples
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Ninhydrin or a Luma Lite might reveal her fingerprints on the cheap white paper, or exemplars of her writing might be matched with what she had scrawled to me.
Fiction book (1999) -
Ninhydrin picked up six distinct prints.
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The homogenate was filtered, and 2 ml of glacial acetic acid and 2 ml of acid ninhydrin reagent were added to 2 ml of filtrate.
Academic text (2013) -
Forensic investigators often use ninhydrin to reveal fingerprints on various surfaces.
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The lab technician applied ninhydrin to the paper to detect hidden amino acids.
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After applying ninhydrin, the latent fingerprints became visible on the evidence card.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Ninhydrin likely mixes ind, which makes you think of the purple dye indigo, with the chemical part -hydr- meaning 'water', the same root as in hydrate. A helpful way to remember is that ninhydrin is the chemical that turns amino acids into purple marks, so the 'indigo' idea and the -hydr- part link its name to its colour and water-related chemistry.