Spot test detection of phenylhydrazine and arsonic acids

If phenylhydrazine or its salts are heated with arsenic acid or with one of its organic derivatives (aliphatic or aromatic arsonic acids) phenol results. The latter can easily be detected in the gas phase by the indophenol reaction with 2:6-dichloroquinone-4-chloroimine. This has been made the basis of characteristic tests for phenylhydrazine (also phenylhydrazones and osazones) as well as for arsonic acids. When conducted within the bounds of spot test analysis, the limits of detection are microanalytical.