Bromophenol blue consists of carbon, hydrogen, bromine and oxygen atoms. It has a formula of C₁₉H₁₀Br₄O₅S This may seem like a bunch of letters and numbers, but it gives scientists a closely defined description of what bromophenol blue is made of. By analyzing its chemical structure, researchers can find how it interacts with other substances in experiments.
Great for use as a pH indicator in chemistry experiments. It’s capable of telling scientists if a substance is acidic, neutral or basic. It is a hydrochromic substance which changes color with changes in the pH of the solution in which it is placed. This is what makes it such a useful tool for scientists who are trying to measure and learn about different chemicals’ acidity.
Bromophenol blue is a dark blue in its natural state. But if mixed with acidic solutions it brightens to a yellow color. However, when it is mixed with basic solutions, a purple color results. This color-changing aspect makes it possible for scientists to "see" the pH of a solution. Furthermore, bromophenol blue is soluble in water, so it easily dissolves in water for use in experiments.
Scientists can produce bromophenol blue by combining a few chemicals in the lab. They are going to take a logical sequence of steps so that they get not only the right formula but the right concentration. After they make their bromophenol blue, they can include it in their experimentation to see how acidic various other substances are. It is a painstaking process; the chemicals must be carefully measured to get precise results.
In general, bromophenol blue is a useful pH indicator in scientific research. Its color-change depending on pH allows scientists to detect and analyze various substances. For use in a chemistry or biology lab, bromophenol blue is a useful tool for experiments of all ages.