Ninhydrin is known to experience fading in which circumstance?

Ninhydrin is a chemical reagent commonly used in latent print analysis to visualize fingerprints. When it reacts with amino acids present in fingerprint residue, it forms a colored compound known as Ruhemann's purple. However, this compound is sensitive to environmental factors, particularly exposure to light.

The fading of ninhydrin developed prints occurs after they have been developed because the colored complex is not stable under prolonged exposure to light. When they are left out in the open or in a well-lit environment, the intense light can break down the pigments formed, resulting in a noticeable fading of the developed prints. This characteristic is crucial for forensic experts to understand, as it can affect the quality and longevity of latent print evidence in investigations.

Understanding this stability is vital when processing prints to ensure that the evidence is preserved as long as possible for analysis or presentation in legal settings.