Used in analytical chemistry to detect alkaloids in plant extracts and pharmaceutical preparations. When added to a sample containing alkaloids, it forms an orange or orange-red precipitate, making it useful for qualitative testing. Commonly applied in forensic toxicology, herbal medicine analysis, and drug screening to identify the presence of nitrogen-containing organic bases. Also used in thin-layer chromatography (TLC) as a staining reagent to visualize alkaloid spots.