3,5-Dinitrosalicylic acid 2527458 197602548 2008-03-12T00:02:12Z 190.25.77.148 [[Image:3,5-dinitrosalicylic-acid-2D-skeletal.png|thumb|right|200px|[[Skeletal formula]] of 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid]] [[Image:3,5-dinitrosalicylic-acid-3D-balls.png|thumb|right|200px|[[Ball-and-stick model]] of 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid]] '''3,5-Dinitrosalicylic acid''' (DNS) is an [[aromatic compound]] that reacts with [[reducing sugar]]s and other reducing molecules to form [[3-amino-5-nitrosalicylic acid]], which absorbs [[light]] strongly at 540 [[1 E-9 m|nm]]. It was first introduced as a method to detect reducing substances in urine and has since been widely used, for example, for quantificating [[carbohydrates]] levels in [[blood]]. It is mainly used in assay of [[alpha-amylase]]. However, [[enzyme|enzymatic]] methods are usually preferred to DNS due to their specificity. ==External links== *[http://www.glue.umd.edu/~NSW/ench485/lab4a.htm Description of lab use from the ''Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland''] {{DEFAULTSORT:Dinitrosalicylic acid, 3,5-}} [[Category:Aromatic compounds]] [[Category:Benzoic acids]] [[Category:Nitro compounds]] {{aromatic-stub}}