The Mandelin reagent is used as a simple spot-test to presumptively identify alkaloids as well as other compounds. It is composed of a mixture of ammonium metavanadate and concentrated sulfuric acid. Its primary use is for the detection of ketamine and PMA [1] Unlike the most common reagent test chemicals, it has a deep red colour that changes to yellow if there is no alkaloid, which occurs within about 48 hours of mixing. [2]
The United States Department of Justice method for producing the reagent is the addition of 100 mL of concentrated (95–98%) sulfuric acid to 0.5 [3] -1 g of ammonium metavanadate. [4]
This reagent was invented by the German pharmacologist, Karl Friedrich Mandelin (1854–1906) at the Imperial University of Dorpat.
| Substance | Color |
|---|---|
| 2C-T-7 | Wine dark to Black [5] |
| Acetaminophen | Moderate olive |
| Benzphetamine | Brilliant yellow green |
| Chlorpromazine | Dark olive |
| Cocaine | Deep orange yellow |
| Codeine | Dark olive |
| d-Amphetamine | Moderate bluish green |
| d-Methamphetamine | Dark yellowish green |
| Diacetylmorphine (Heroin) | Moderate reddish brown |
| Dimethoxymethamphetamine | Dark olive brown |
| Doxepin | Very reddish brown |
| Dristan | Greyish olive |
| Exedrine | Dark olive |
| Ketamine | Deep reddish orange [1] |
| Mace | Moderate olive green |
| MDA | Bluish black [6] |
| MDMA | Bluish black [6] |
| Mescaline | Dark yellowish brown |
| Methadone | Dark greyish blue |
| Methaqualone | Very orange yellow |
| Methylphenidate | Brilliant orange yellow |
| Morphine | Dark greyish reddish brown |
| Opium | Olive black |
| Oxycodone | Dark greenish yellow |
| Procaine | Deep orange |
| Propoxyphene | Dark reddish brown |
| Psilocybin | Green [7] |
| Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) | Reddish brown [1] |
| Paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) | Reddish brown [1] |
| Salt (NaCl-HCl) | Strong orange |