Salkowski test for cholesterol:

Salkowski test is used to detect cholesterol in a solution. This test is named after a German biochemist Ernst Leopold Salkowski.

Reagents:

• Cholesterol solution
• Chloroform
• Concentrated Sulphuric acid

Procedure:

• Take 2 ml of cholesterol solution, in chloroform.
• Add 2 ml of concentrated sulphuric acid.
• Shake well

Observations:

The upper layer consisting of chloroform becomes bluish-red to cherry-red, whereas the layer of sulphuric acid becomes yellow with green fluorescence.

Precautions:

• Before starting the experiment wash the apparatus cleanly.
• Carefully handle the sulphuric acid and all others chemicals in the lab.