Murexide is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C8H5N5O6. The word "Murexide" follows the English pronunciation system and is pronounced as /mjʊˈrɛksaɪd/. It is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable, similar to how "mural" is pronounced. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word shows that it begins with "m" sound, followed by "yuh" and then "rehk" sound. Finally, it ends with "sight" sound. The spelling of the word Murexide is a combination of the elements "murex" and "ide".
Murexide is a vibrant red or purple compound that is synthetic in nature and chemically known as ammonium purpurate. It is commonly used as an indicator in analytical chemistry to determine the presence or absence of certain elements or compounds in a solution. Murexide has an intense color change that makes it suitable for detecting metal ions, such as copper, nickel, and calcium, as well as for detecting the presence of ammonia.
This compound is characterized by its insolubility in water but solubility in strong acids and alkalis. Its insolubility allows it to form a precipitate, making it useful in detecting substances that react with it. Murexide is highly sensitive to changes in pH, and its color shifts from red in acidic solutions to purple in basic ones.
In addition to its role as an indicator, murexide also finds applications in other fields. It is used as a dye for textiles, inks, and paints due to its intense and stable color. Murexide is also utilized in the manufacturing of some pharmaceutical products and as a biological stain to enhance the visibility of certain structures under a microscope.
Overall, murexide is a versatile synthetic compound that serves various purposes, primarily as an indicator in analytical chemistry, owing to its distinct color changes in different chemical environments.
The ammonium salt of purpuric acid, formerly used as a dye, but superseded by the aniline colors.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Purpurate of ammonia, an organic compound, forming a purple colour with a solution of potash.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "Murexide" has its etymology rooted in Latin. It derives from the Latin word "murex", meaning "purple", which is a reference to a type of sea snail known as the Murex. These snails were highly valued in ancient times for their ability to produce a purple dye, which was used to dye fabrics for nobles and royalty. Murexide itself is a synthetic compound that was named after the Murex snail due to its color resembling the purple dye produced by the snail.