Acid-base indicators
Definition
Acid-base indicators are substances that change color in response to changes in pH, allowing the determination of the acidic or basic nature of a solution. They are commonly used in titrations to signal the endpoint of a reaction.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Acid-base indicators have a specific pH range over which they change color.
- Common examples include litmus, phenolphthalein, and bromothymol blue.
- The choice of indicator depends on the expected pH at the titration's equivalence point.
- Indicators function due to their different ionic forms having different colors.
- Phenolphthalein is colorless in acidic solutions and pink in basic solutions.
Review Questions
- What role do acid-base indicators play in titrations?
- Why is it important to choose an appropriate indicator for a specific titration?
- How does phenolphthalein indicate the presence of a base?
"Acid-base indicators" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Study guides (1)
Related terms
pH: A measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution, defined as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration.
Titration: A laboratory method used to determine the concentration of an analyte by reacting it with a standard solution.
Equivalence Point: The point in a titration at which the amount of titrant added is exactly enough to completely neutralize or react with the analyte.
