Detection of Nitrite in Water Using Minoxidil as a Reagent

June 2013 in “ Journal of Chemical Education ”

Mario González-Jiménez, Jorge Arenas-Valgañón, Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho, Juan García-Prieto, Emilio Calle, Julio Casado

minoxidil Rogaine

TLDR Minoxidil detects nitrite in water, creating a simple, cheap test.

This paper presents a colorimetric experiment for detecting nitrite in water using minoxidil as a reagent. Minoxidil is a drug used to treat hair loss and produces a yellow product when reacted with nitrite in acidic media. The experiment is simple, inexpensive, and suitable for environmental, food, and physiological analytical applications. The authors suggest that the experiment can be used as a pedagogical tool to enhance students' curiosity, prediction capacity, and creativity.

View this study on doi.org →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

3 / 3 results

research Aromatic C-Nitrosation of a Bioactive Molecule: Nitrosation of Minoxidil

8 citations, January 2011 in “Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry”

Minoxidil reacts to nitrosation 7 times more than phenol, mainly due to its -NH₂ groups, leading to the creation of N-nitrosominoxidil.

research From Surgery to Pharmacology to Gene Therapy: The Evolution of Hair Restoration Techniques

14 citations, September 2010 in “Annals of Plastic Surgery”

Hair restoration has evolved from surgery to drugs to potential gene therapy, with improved results and ongoing research driven by high demand.

research The History of the Development of Minoxidil

23 citations, October 1988 in “Clinics in Dermatology”

Minoxidil was first made for high blood pressure, but it was later found to help hair growth.

Similar Research

6 / 1000+ results

research Hair: A Review of Prominent Scalp Hair Changes Throughout a Female's Life

January 2014 in “Journal of Pigmentary Disorders”

Women's hair gets thinner and grayer as they age, with treatments available for hair loss and graying.

research Minoxidil Overdose: Severe Hypotension and Tachycardia After Ingestion

11 citations, April 1993 in “Chest”

Man drank minoxidil, caused low blood pressure and fast heartbeat, treatment helped but led to heart damage.

research Hair Transplantation for Men and Women

8 citations, March 2006 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery”

Hair transplantation has improved to look more natural, but managing patient expectations and using precise techniques are key for the best outcomes.

research What Ages Hair?

6 citations, October 2015 in “International Journal of Women's Dermatology”

Hair aging is inevitable, but using the right hair care products can help maintain hair health.

research Management of Hair Loss

74 citations, April 2005 in “Dermatologic Clinics”

Minoxidil and finasteride are effective for male hair loss, minoxidil for female hair loss, and various treatments like corticosteroids work for alopecia areata; treatment should be tailored to the individual.

research Contact Dermatitis in Reaction to 2% Topical Minoxidil Solution

23 citations, April 1991 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Minoxidil solution can cause skin irritation and allergies in some users.

Detection of Nitrite in Water Using Minoxidil as a Reagent

Research cited in this study

research Aromatic C-Nitrosation of a Bioactive Molecule: Nitrosation of Minoxidil

research From Surgery to Pharmacology to Gene Therapy: The Evolution of Hair Restoration Techniques

research The History of the Development of Minoxidil

Related Community Posts Join

community Warning: Your Rogaine Foam Might Not Contain Minoxidil

community Yesterday was my first haircut in 5 years where I couldn’t see my scalp under the barbers lights.

community Hey chooms! Coming in on the 2 year mark soon. Still making progress. (Fin/Min)

community Do I need to get professional advice?

community Success WITH pics: saw results in 2 months. Variation of BIG 3. I'm 24 years old and been doing it for 8 months now.

community Topical minoxidil and salicylic acid