phenolphthalein

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phenolphthalein

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

phenolphthalein , or 2,2-Bis( p -hydroxyphenyl) phthalide, C 20 H 14 O 4 , crystalline organic compound. It is used medicinally as a laxative and is widely employed in the laboratory as an indicator of the acidity or basicity of solutions. In pure water it is insoluble, but it is soluble in basic solutions or in ethanol or acetone. In a solution with p H greater than 8 ( p H 8 is mildly basic) phenolphthalein is pink to red in color, but at p H less than 8 it is colorless. Phenolphthalein is a phenol derivative of phthalic anhydride.

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phenolphthalein

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | © A Dictionary of Biology 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

phenolphthalein A dye used as an acid-base indicator. It is colourless below pH 8 and red above pH 9.6. It is used in titrations involving weak acids and strong bases. It is also used as a laxative.

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