Metol colour

Hi

A friend of mine gave me like 50 grams of his metol as he gave up mixing chems. But, it's a grey cristalline solid, similar to cane sugar. Shouldn't it be white-ish? Do you think it has gone bad by oxidation?

Thanks

It usually has a greyish tinge, and it keeps a long time in my experience.

Ian

Metol will turn grey or purplish gray with age particularly if exposed to light. This will have no appreciable effect on its activity. Years ago such chemicals were supplied in brown glass bottles to prevent any color change This also happens with other developing agents like hydroquinone and catechol.