Murexide

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Murexide \Mu*rex"ide\, n. [L. murex the purple fish, purple.]
     (Chem.)
     A crystalline nitrogenous substance ({C8H8N6O6},
     5-5'-nitrilodibarbituric acid monoammonium salt) having a
     splendid dichroism, being green by reflected light and
     garnet-red by transmitted light. It was formerly used in


     dyeing calico, and was obtained in a large quantities from
     guano. It is now synthesized from alloxan. Formerly called
     also {ammonium purpurate}.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]