Zeisel determination

The Zeisel determination or Zeisel test is a chemical test for the presence of esters or ethers in a chemical substance ^{[1] [2] [3]}. In a qualitative test a sample is first reacted with a mixture of acetic acid and hydriodic acid in a test tube. The ensuing reaction results in the cleavage of the ether or the ester into an alkyl iodide and respectively an alcohol or an carboxylic acid.

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By heating this mixture, the gases are allowed to come into contact with a piece of paper higher up the test tube saturated with mercury(II) nitrate. Any alkyl iodide present will give a reaction with the mercury compound to mercury(II) iodide which has a red or yellow color.

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