Schultze's reagent

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Schultze's reagent (also known as chlor-zinc-iodine solution) is a dense solution of zinc chloride and water in which iodine and potassium-iodide (IKI) is dissolved. It was first used by German microscopist and comparative anatomist Max Schultze and has a number of uses, notably to distinguish cellulosic from non-cellulosic structures in botanical microscopy. [1] [2] [3] The formulation varies between authors, however, it generally consists of a 2:1 ratio of zinc chloride to water, with potassium iodide and elemental iodine present in concentrations of approximately 10–17.5% and 2–3.5%, respectively, relative to the total mass of the solution. The potassium iodide and iodine are in a 5:1 ratio in all variants. [2] [3]

Because Schultze's reagent is a high-molarity zinc chloride solution, it is a potential chemical hazard, being highly corrosive and a skin and membrane irritation hazard. [4] [5] In addition, elemental iodine is potentially toxic if ingested. [4]

Schultze's reagent should be distinguished from a similarly-named solution, Schultze's macerating fluid, which is a solution of potassium chlorate and concentrated nitric acid, and is used in acid maceration of paleontological and palynological specimens.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. ↑ Schacht, Hermann (1862). Das Mikroskop und seine Anwendung, insbesondere für Pflanzen-Anatomie [The Microscope and its Application, Especially for Plant Anatomy] (3rd ed.). Berlin: GWF Müller. p. 47.
  2. 1 2 Clémençon, Heinz (2009). Methods for Working with Macrofungi: Laboratory Cultivation and Preparation of Larger Fungi for Light Microscopy. Eching, DE: IHW-Verlag. pp. 34, 38–39. ISBN   978-3-930167-73-9.
  3. 1 2 Kück, Ulrich; Wolff, Gabriele (2014). Botanisches Grundpraktikum [Botanical Fundamentals] (3rd ed.). Berlin: Springer Spektrum. p. 174. ISBN   978-3-642-53705-9.
  4. 1 2 "Safety Data Sheet: Zinc iodine chloride solution acc. to Behrens, for microscopy" (PDF). Carl Roth. 2024-10-10 [2015-11-17].
  5. ↑ "Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet: Zinc chloride" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Health: Workplace Health and Safety, Right to Know. January 2010 [December 2000].
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