KI-starch paper allows the detection of strong oxidizers such as nitrite. It is used here to control diazotization of 4-nitroaniline. Nitrite oxidizes potassium iodide in order to form elemental iodine which reacts with starch to a blue-violet complex. With KI-starch paper, enough sodium nitrite is added to produce nitrous acid, which then will react with 4-nitroaniline to form a diazonium salt.
