Phenolphthalein is an acid base indicator. It is a weak acid, which is colorless in acidic solution and turns puce pink in alkaline solution. Phenolphthalein is genotoxic.
Phenolphthalein is a colourless, weak acid which dissociates in water forming pink anions. Under acidic conditions, the equilibrium is to the left,and the concentration of the anions is too low for the pink colour to be observed.
Phenolphthalein is used as an acid or base indicator where, in contact or presence of acid, it will turn colorless and with a base, it will turn into a fuchsia color. It is also a component in universal indicator, a solution consisting of a mixture of pH indicators (usually phenolphthalein, methyl red, bromothymol blue, and thymol blue).
Dissolve 10.0 g of phenolphthalein powder in 750 mL of ethanol and dilute to 1 L with distilled water. Add 0.1 N sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution dropwise to the first permanent faint pink end point. Color and pH range: colorless 8.3-10.0 red.
Phenolphthalein is basic indicator which remain colorless in acidic and neutral solution and turns pink or magenta in basic solution. If few drops of NaOH is added again to the same solution, the solution become basic and the pink color of the phenolphthalein reappears.
