[KraigH]

I am looking for the solution that will detect the presence of salt water.  I have seen a dropper of soluition placed on a surface exposed to salt water and it turned red/pink when sodium chloride was present.

I initially thought the solution was Silver Nitrate but this creates a white precipitate when introducted to Chloride.

[jdurg]

A rhodium salt would do that as rhodium chloride is an intensely red color.  (Which is how rhodium got its name).  However, at about $3,000 per OUNCE of Rhodium, it would be a needlessly expensive test when something as simply as a silver nitrate solution would be just as effective.

[KraigH]

any idea what the solution was that I saw used?

[jdurg]

It could very well have been an aqueous solution of a rhodium salt.  Something like rhodium nitrate or whatnot.