Michael's Reaction

The Michael reaction is a method used in chemistry to determine the acidity of solutions. This method was developed in the 1920s by Russian chemist Fedor Alekseevich Mikhailov.

The Michael reaction is based on the reaction between an acid solution and an alkali. If you add a small amount of alkali to an acid solution, a reaction occurs that leads to the formation of a salt. This reaction can be measured using indicators such as methyl orange or phenolphthalein.

One of the advantages of the Michael reaction is its simplicity and ease of use. It can be performed in any laboratory, even without special equipment. In addition, the Michael reaction is a fast and accurate method for determining the acidity of a solution.

However, the Michael reaction also has its drawbacks. For example, it cannot be used to determine very low acidity values. Also, some acids may give false results due to their ability to react with an alkali without forming a salt.

Despite these disadvantages, the Michael reaction remains one of the most common methods for determining the acidity of solutions in chemistry. It is widely used in scientific research, manufacturing and other areas where it is necessary to control the acidity of solutions.



The Michael reaction is a universal method for determining sodium, magnesium and calcium ions using indicator paper. This work discusses the principle of operation of this method, the stages of the reaction, reagents and research results.

The Mikhailov reaction allows you to determine the concentration of sodium and magnesium ions in natural or artificial solutions in the range from 0 to 1 mEq/ml. The principle of operation of the method is based on the change in color of the indicator upon contact with the test solution. The indicator is a paper strip painted blue. When acid is added, the color of the indicator changes to yellow. This test is a quick and convenient way to analyze the parameters of solutions. It is widely used in various industries such as chemistry, medicine, biology and other sciences.

Stages of the reaction:

Stage 1. Preparation of indicator paper. To do this, place the cut paper in a cap or test tube, then add distilled water.

Stage 2. Preparation of the solution. Add liquid containing sodium or magnesium ions to the test vessel. Use distilled or deionized solutions.

Stage 3. Adding an indicator. Apply a few drops of the indicator to a strip of paper and wrap tightly around the container. Some scientists recommend performing the reaction twice to ensure complete dissolution of the indicator in the liquid.

Third stage. Reaction time. Leave the indicator sheet on for a few minutes and then observe the color change. The paper should change color from light blue to yellow if a certain amount of Na, Mg or Ca ions is present in the solution



The Mikhailov reaction is one of the methods for determining the ammonia content in objects, based on adding a small volume of alkaline alkali solution to a sample and acidifying it with sulfuric acid, followed by heating the sample. When heated, a lead amide salt is formed, which is characterized by an intense blue color.

This method was developed by Russian scientist Mikhail Alekseev Mikhailovich Mikhailov in 1911, after whom this reaction was named. However, despite the fact that more than a century has passed since its discovery, the Michelson reaction still remains one of the simplest and most accessible methods for determining ammonia content even today. It allows you to quickly and accurately determine the ammonia content of various liquids and gases, making it an indispensable tool for testing food, water, soils and other materials. It is also widely used in the production of nitrogen fertilizers, ammonia, detergents and other industrial products where control of ammonia content is a prerequisite for production. The Mikhailov reaction has high sensitivity and specificity, which allows you to quickly analyze and obtain results. In addition, it is easy to perform, does not require special equipment and reagents, and can be carried out in a laboratory or even in the field. At its core, the Mikhailov reaction is a titrimetric method of determination, which means that to carry out the analysis it is necessary to use special reagents that react chemically with the substance being determined. In this case, when ammonia is determined, the reagent is an alkali, which reacts with ammonia to form an amide salt. This salt is then hydrolyzed under the action of sulfuric acid, resulting in the formation of a blue substance, which gives color. Thanks to this process, the color of the product changes depending on the concentration of ammonia, which can be determined by comparing the shade of the resulting substance with a color standard.