pH indicator
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- Acid-base extraction
- Acid-base reaction
- Acid-base physiology
- Acid-base homeostasis
- Dissociation constant
- Acidity function
- Buffer solutions
- pH
- Proton affinity
- Self-ionization of water
- Acids:
- Bases:
A pH indicator is a halochromic chemical compound that is added in small amounts to a solution so that the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of the solution can be determined easily. Hence a pH indicator is a chemical detector for hydronium ions (H3O+) (or Hydrogen ions (H+) in the Arrhenius model). Normally, the indicator causes the colour of the solution to change depending on the pH. Solutions with a pH value above 7.0 are basic, and solutions with a pH value below 7.0 are acidic. Solutions with a pH value of 7.0 are neutral.
Theory
pH indicators themselves are frequently weak acids or bases. When introduced into a solution, they may bind to H+ (Hydrogen ion) or OH- (hydroxide) ions. The different electron configurations of the bound indicator causes the indicator's color to change, which allows the pH to be determined by the different colors.
Application
pH indicators are frequently employed in titrations in analytic chemistry and biology experiments to determine the extent of a chemical reaction. Because of the subjective determination of color, pH indicators are susceptible to imprecise readings. For applications requiring precise measurement of pH, a pH meter is frequently used.
Tabulated below are several common laboratory pH indicators. Indicators usually exhibit intermediate colors at pH values inside the listed transition range. For example, phenol red exhibits an orange color between pH 6.8 and pH 8.4. The transition range may shift slightly depending on the concentration of the indicator in solution and on the temperature at which it is used.
| Indicator | Low pH color | Transition pH range | High pH color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gentian violet (Methyl violet) | yellow | 0.0–2.0 | blue-violet |
| Leucomalachite green (first transition) | yellow | 0.0–2.0 | green |
| Leucomalachite green (second transition) | green | 11.6–14 | colorless |
| Thymol blue (first transition) | red | 1.2–2.8 | yellow |
| Thymol blue (second transition) | yellow | 8.0–9.6 | blue |
| Methyl yellow | red | 2.9–4.0 | yellow |
| Bromophenol blue | yellow | 3.0–4.6 | purple |
| Congo red | blue-violet | 3.0–5.0 | red |
| Methyl orange | red | 3.1–4.4 | orange |
| Bromocresol green | yellow | 3.8–5.4 | blue-green |
| Methyl red | red | 4.4–6.2 | yellow |
| Methyl red / Bromocresol green | red | 4.5–5.2 | green |
| Azolitmin | red | 4.5–8.3 | blue |
| Bromocresol purple | yellow | 5.2–6.8 | purple |
| Bromothymol blue | yellow | 6.0–7.6 | blue |
| Phenol red | yellow | 6.8–8.4 | purple |
| Neutral red | red | 6.8–8.0 | yellow |
| Naphtholphthalein | colorless to reddish | 7.3–8.7 | greenish to blue |
| Cresol Red | yellow | 7.2–8.8 | reddish-purple |
| Phenolphthalein | colorless | 8.3–10.0 | fuchsia |
| Thymolphthalein | colorless | 9.3–10.5 | blue |
| Alizarine Yellow R | yellow | 10.2–12.0 | red |
Commercial preparations
Universal indicator and Hydrion papers are blends of different indicators that exhibits several smooth color changes over a wide range of pH values.
Naturally occurring pH indicators
Many plants or plant parts contain chemicals from the naturally-colored anthocyanin family of compounds. They are red in acidic solutions and blue in basic. Extracting anthocyanins from red cabbage leaves or the skin of a lemon to form a crude acid-base indicator is a popular introductory chemistry demonstration.
Anthocyanins can be extracted from a multitude of colored plants or plant parts, including from leaves (red cabbage); flowers (geranium, poppy, or rose petals); berries (blueberries, blackcurrant); and stems (rhubarb). An exhaustive list would be beyond the scope of this article.
References
da:pH-papir de:Indikator (Chemie)#Säure-Base-Indikatoren et:Happesusindikaatorfr:Indicateur de pH it:Indicatore he:אינדיקטור pH lv:pH indikators nl:PH-indicator ja:酸塩基指示薬 no:PH-indikatorsv:Indikator
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
