Chromotropic Acid Method.(127) In the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid, chromotropic acid (1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid) reacts with formaldehyde to give a red-violet hydroxydiphenylmethane derivative (see eq 9). In the second step of the reaction, a violet quinoid oxidation product is formed with atmospheric oxygen. The concentrated sulfuric acid is a catalyst for dehydration and oxidation. The absorption maximum at 580 nm is used for UV/vis detection. The reaction is specific for formaldehyde when the pH value is