How does luminol react?
Luminol (3-Aminophthalhydrazide) was synthesized for the first time in 1853. Its property to produce a chemo-luminescent reaction in basic solution in the presence of an oxidizing agent on contact with blood was first observed by Albrecht in 1928. The main components capable of catalyzing this reaction for emitting light are the transition metals haem and peroxidase. Haem is a biochemical structure that forms an integral part of peroxidase. This structure is equally present in hemoglobin. In this manner, the presence of hemoglobin thus of blood can be revealed by taking advantage of the ability of haem to catalyze the chemo-luminescent property of luminol. In other words, a mix of luminol + oxidizing agent + alkaline agent, when placed in contact with blood, will emit light.
