Millonn.
/ˈmɪlɒn/, U.S. /məˈlɑn/ Biochemistry and Chemistry.
1.
a. Millon's test n. (also Millon test) the Millon reaction (see sense 1c) employed as a test for phenols, esp. for proteins containing tyrosine.
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Millon's test1870
1870 Nature 28 Apr. 658/1 I treated the substance with Millon's test which, as is well known, colours conchiolin red.
1891 F. C. Larkin & P. Leigh Outl. Pract. Physiological Chem. (ed. 2) 11 Millon's test. No reaction if pure.
1968 Brain 91 464 Tyrosine residues were demonstrated with the Millon test and the diazotization coupling method.
1987 G. Toole & S. Toole Understanding Biol. for Advanced Level iii. 32/2 Millon's Test detects the amino acid tyrosine and will therefore only give a positive result with proteins possessing it.
b. Millon's reagent n. a clear solution of mercuric nitrate containing some nitrous acid, used in the Millon test.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical tests > [noun] > reagents > other
Millon's reagent1872
orcinol1880
rubeanic acid1891
tetrazolium1895
Schiff reagent1897
Tollens'(s) reagent1904
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [noun] > substances involved in > reagent > specific
Millon's reagent1872
orcinol1880
1872 Chem. News 2 Aug. 59/1 (title) Estimation of urea by means of Millon's reagent.
1955 K. Hutton & A. Swallow Chem. for Gen. Sci. xii. 171 Add a few drops of Millon's reagent..to scraps of hair or finger-nail in a test-tube and warm. Note the curious and unique pink colour that develops.
1963 R. R. A. Higham Handbk. Papermaking iii. 85 The presence of casein may be proved by moistening the paper with Millon's reagent and gently heating.
1998 Arch. Pathol. & Lab. Med. 122 644 The crystals were not discernible under polarized light. They stained a red-brown color with Millon's reagent, which indicated the presence of tyrosine.
c. Millon reaction n. (also Millon's reaction) the characteristic reaction of Millon's reagent with phenolic compounds, in which a white precipitate is produced that becomes pink or reddish on heating (described by Millon for a phenolic protein in Compte Rendu Hebd. de l'Acad. des Sci. (1849) 28 40).
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Millon reaction1875
1875 A. Gamgee tr. L. Hermann Elements Human Physiol. i. 32 Mercuric nitrate, in the presence of a little nitrous acid, at 60°C., colours the albuminous bodies red (Millon's reaction).
1953 A. G. E. Pearse Histochem. vii. 140 The presence of a positive Millon reaction for tyrosine or a positive coupled tetrazonium reaction for tyrosine, tryptophan and histidine, can be taken as sufficient indication of the presence of protein.
1989 Jrnl. Zool. 219 22 Skin sections were treated by the following procedures:..Ninhydrin/Schiff technique for protein-bound NH2 groups;..Millon reaction for tyrosine; [etc.].
2. Millon's base n. a yellow basic powder, Hg2NOH·2H2O, produced by the action of aqueous ammonia on mercuric oxide (as reported by Millon in Ann. de Chim. et de Physique (1846) 18 393).
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Millon's base1883
Lewis base1944
1883 Encycl. Brit. XVI. 34/1 The product is a yellow solid base (‘Millon's base’) of the composition N2H6 + 4HgO + H2O = N2Hg4O.2H2O + 2H2O.
1922 T. M. Lowry Inorg. Chem. xliv. 886 When mercuric oxide is acted on by dilute ammonia it is converted slowly into a pale yellow powder having the empirical formula 2HgO,NH3,H2O, which explodes when heated (compare fulminating gold) and is known as Millon's Base.
1951 Acta Crystallogr. 4 156 The structure of Millon's base, Hg2NOH.2H2O, consists of a three-dimensional framework Hg2N+ in an idealized cristobalite type of arrangement.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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