Chemical trap

In chemistry, a chemical trap is a chemical compound that is used to detect a certain molecule when


 * the concentration of this molecule is very small and below detection limit
 * the molecule is very reactive and it is not possible to isolate or detect it by spectroscopic means
 * the molecule is an enantiomer present in a racemate.

With the reaction product of the chemical trap and the molecule in question it is possible to


 * quantify the amount
 * prove the existence of the molecule