What is "aluminon"

n. The triammonium salt of aurintricarboxylic acid, commonly used as a dye to detect the presence of the aluminium ion in an aqueous solution.

Aluminon, the tri ammonium salt of aurintricarboxylic acid, is a dye commonly used to detect the presence of the aluminium ion in an aqueous solution. In addition to its use in qualitative inorganic analysis, aluminon has applications in pigment production. It forms brilliantly colored lake pigments with aluminum, chromium, iron, and beryllium.

Aluminon is prepared by reacting sodium nitrite with salicylic acid, adding formaldehyde, then treating with ammonia.