Question:

The orthotolidine test is used for assessing the concentration of which of the following in water?

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Think of the yellow colour test done to check residual disinfectant in chlorinated water.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Chlorine
  • Nitrites
  • Nitrates
  • Fluorine
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The orthotolidine test is a chemical test used in water treatment to measure the amount of residual chlorine present after disinfection.
Step 2: When orthotolidine reagent is added to chlorinated water, free and combined chlorine react with it to produce a yellow colour. The intensity of the yellow colour is directly proportional to the chlorine concentration.
Step 3: This allows estimation of free residual chlorine, which should ideally be at least 0.5 mg/L after a contact period of one hour to ensure safe drinking water.
Step 4: Nitrites, nitrates and fluorine are estimated by other dedicated chemical methods and are not assessed by this test.
Conclusion: The orthotolidine test assesses the concentration of chlorine. The printed answer key (A. Chlorine) is medically correct.
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