Mayer's reagent
Mayer's reagent is an alkaloidal precipitating reagent used for the detection of alkaloids in natural products. Mayer’s reagent is freshly prepared by dissolving a mixture of mercuric chloride and of potassium iodide in water. Most alkaloids are precipitated from neutral or slightly acidic solution by Mayer’s reagent to give a cream coloured precipitate. This test was invented by the German Chemist, Julius Robert Von Mayer.
