Salkowski's Reagent: Detecting Steroids and Cholesterol

Salkowski's reagent is a solution used in the laboratory to detect the presence of steroids, particularly cholesterol. It is named after the German chemist Ernst Salkowski, who developed the reagent in the late 19th century.

The Salkowski's reagent is composed of concentrated sulfuric acid, acetic acid, and a solution of ferric chloride in water. When the reagent comes into contact with a sample containing steroids, it produces a color change, typically turning from yellow to red or purple. This color change is due to the reaction between the steroids and the ferric chloride in the reagent.

Salkowski's reagent is commonly used in biochemistry and lipid research to detect and quantify the amount of cholesterol in biological samples, such as blood or tissue extracts. The intensity of color change can be measured spectrophotometrically to determine the concentration of cholesterol present in the sample.

It is important to note that Salkowski's reagent is corrosive and toxic, and proper precautions should be taken when handling it in the laboratory.