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The discovery of phenolphthalein's laxative effect was due to an attempt by the Hungarian government to label [clarification needed] genuine local white wine with the substance in 1900. Phenolphthalein did not change the taste of the wine and would change color when a base is added, making it a good label in principle.
It is a weak acid with pK a = 8.00 at 20 °C (68 °F). A solution of phenol red is used as a pH indicator, often in cell culture. Its color exhibits a gradual transition from yellow (λ max = 443 nm [2]) to red (λ max = 570 nm [3]) over the pH range 6.8 to 8.2. Above pH 8.2, phenol red turns a bright pink color. [4] [5]
For optimal accuracy, the color difference between the two species should be as clear as possible, and the narrower the pH range of the color change the better. In some indicators, such as phenolphthalein, one of the species is colorless, whereas in other indicators, such as methyl red, both species confer a color. While pH indicators work ...
Other examples are phenolphthalein and thymolphthalein, colorless in acidic to neutral pH, but becoming pink and blue in alkaline environment. Other example are many redox indicators, which undergo reversible color change between colored and colorless form at a specific electrode potential.
The main use of litmus is to test whether a solution is acidic or basic, as blue litmus paper turns red under acidic conditions, and red litmus paper turns blue under basic or alkaline conditions, with the color change occurring over the pH range 4.5–8.3 at 25 °C (77 °F). Neutral litmus paper is purple. [2]
Upon reduction, the very intense pink color of the cationic form of phenolphthalein fades to a faint yellow color. It is this form of phenolphthalein that is present in Kastle–Meyer test kits. In order to generate the intense pink color indicative of a positive test, the reduced phenolphthalein must be oxidized back to its normal, colored form.
The color of chemicals is a physical property of chemicals that in most cases comes from the excitation of electrons due to an absorption of energy performed by the chemical. The study of chemical structure by means of energy absorption and release is generally referred to as spectroscopy .
Chemical structure of phenolphthalein, a common phthalein dye. Phthalein dyes are a class of dyes mainly used as pH indicators, due to their ability to change colors depending on pH. [1] They are formed by the reaction of phthalic anhydride with various phenols. They are a subclass of triarylmethane dyes. Common phthalein dyes include ...