SYNONYMS

TARTRAZINE

DEFINITION Tartrazine consists essentially of trisodium 5-hydroxy-1-(4-sulfonatophenyl) (4-sulfonatophenylazo)-H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate and subsidary colour matters together with sodium chloride and/or sodium sulfate as the principal uncoloured components. Tartrazine is described as the sodium salt. The calcium and the potassium are also permitted.
CLASS Monoazo
COLOUR INDEX NO. 19140
EEC NUMBER E-102
EINECS 217-699-5
CHEMICAL NAMES Trisodium-5-hydroxy-1-(4-sulfonatophenyl)-4-(4-sulfonatophenylazo)-H- 
pyrazole-3-carboxylate
CHEMICAL FORMULA C16H9N4Na3O9S2
MOLECULAR WEIGHT 534.4
ASSAY Content not less than 85% total colouring matters, calculated as the sodium salt. 
E 1% 1cm 530 at ca 426 nm in aqueous solution.
DESCRIPTION  Light orange powder
IDENTIFICATION   
a. Spectrometry  Maximum in water at ca 426 nm
b. Yellow solution in water
PURITY Not more than 0.2%
Water Insoluble matter
Subsidiary colouring matters Not more than 1.0%
Organic compounds other than colouring matters [4-hydrazinobenzene sulfonic acid / 4-aminobenzene-1-sulfonic acid / 5-oxo-1-(4-sulfophenyl)-2-pyrazoline-3-carboxylic acid / 4,4'- diazoaminodi(benzene sulfonic acid) / Tetrahydroxysuccinic acid] - Total not more than 0.5%
Unsulfonated primary aromatic amines Not more than 0.01% (Calculated as aniline)
Ether extractable matter Not more than 0.2% under neutral conditions
Arsenic Not more than 3 mg/kg.
Lead Not more than 10 mg/kg.
Mercury Not more than 1 mg/kg.
Cadmium Not more than 1 mg/kg.
Heavy metals  Not more than 40 mg/kg.
(as Pb)