Antimony(III) chloride is used as a chlorinating agent, as a fireproofing agent in textiles; in bronzing steel and as a mordant in dyeing as well as a caustic in medicine. It is also used as an apoptosis agent that is used to detect cholesterols and carotenoids. It is also employed to detect certain compounds, such as cholesterols and carotenoids. This agent seems to cause dehydration of cholesterol to 3,5-cholestadiene and 2,4-cholestadiene which produce the blue color seen during the reaction.
This Thermo Scientific Chemicals brand product was originally part of the Alfa Aesar product portfolio. Some documentation and label information may refer to the legacy brand. The original Alfa Aesar product / item code or SKU reference has not changed as a part of the brand transition to Thermo Scientific Chemicals.