Marquis reagent

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The 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. Different compounds produce different colour reactions. Also some times methanol is added to slow down the reaction process to observe the change in colour better. Methanol does this by slowing down the polymerisation process.

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

The test is performed by scraping off a small amount of the substance and adding a drop of the reagent (which is initially clear). 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:

Marquis reagent test analysis^[1]

Substance	Color	Time (s)	Notes
MDMA or MDA	purple to black	0-5	may have dark purple tint
Amphetamine or Methamphetamine	orange to brown	0-5	may have a brown tint
2C-B	orange to green	5-10	color may change from initial result
DXM	gray to black	15-30	initially no change; takes much longer to reach black than MDMA

See also

• Pill testing

References

External links

• Shulgin on the Test
• Color Test Reagents/Kits for Preliminary Identification of Drugs Of Abuse, National Institute of Justice Standard – 0604.01