text: Rhodizonates tend to have various shades of red, from yellowish to purplish, in transmitted light, with a greenish luster in reflected light. 
  Potassium rhodizonate can be prepared with good yield and purity by oxidizing inositol with nitric acid and reacting the result with potassium acetate in the presence of oxygen. The rhodizonate crystallizes out of the solution due to its relative insolubility in water. 
  Sodium rhodizonate is dark brown and stable when dry, but the aqueous solution decomposes in a few days, even in the refrigerator. Lead rhodizonate is dark violet.