Redox indicator

A redox indicator (also called an oxidation-reduction indicator) is an indicator which undergoes a definite color change at a specific electrode potential.

The requirement for fast and reversible color change means that the oxidation-reduction equilibrium for an indicator redox system needs to be established very quickly. Therefore, only a few classes of organic redox systems can be used for indicator purposes.[1]

There are two common classes of redox indicators:

The most common redox indicator are organic compounds.Redox Indicator example:The molecule 2,2'- Bipyridine is a redox Indicator. In solution, it changes from light blue to red at an electrode potential of 0.97 V.

pH independent edit

IndicatorE0, VColor of Oxidized formColor of Reduced form
2,2'-bipyridine (Ru complex)+1.33colorlessyellow
Nitrophenanthroline (Fe complex)+1.25cyanred
N-Phenylanthranilic acid+1.08violet-redcolorless
1,10-Phenanthroline iron(II) sulfate complex (Ferroin)+1.06cyanred
N-Ethoxychrysoidine+1.00redyellow
2,2`-Bipyridine (Fe complex)+0.97cyanred
5,6-Dimethylphenanthroline (Fe complex)+0.97yellow-greencyan
o-Dianisidine+0.85redcolorless
Sodium diphenylamine sulfonate+0.84red-violetcolorless
Diphenylbenzidine+0.76violetcolorless
Diphenylamine+0.76violetcolorless
Viologen-0.43colorlessblue

pH dependent edit

IndicatorE0, V

at pH=0

E, V

at pH=7

Color of

Oxidized form

Color of

Reduced form

Sodium 2,6-Dibromophenol-indophenol

or Sodium 2,6-Dichlorophenol-indophenol

+0.64+0.22bluecolorless
Sodium o-Cresol indophenol+0.62+0.19bluecolorless
Thionine (syn. Lauth's violet)+0.56+0.06violetcolorless
Methylene blue+0.53+0.01[2]bluecolorless
Indigotetrasulfonic acid+0.37-0.05bluecolorless
Indigotrisulfonic acid+0.33-0.08bluecolorless
Indigo carmine

(syn. Indigodisulfonic acid

+0.29-0.13bluecolorless
Indigomono sulfonic acid+0.26-0.16bluecolorless
Phenosafranin+0.28-0.25redcolorless
Safranin T+0.24-0.29red-violetcolorless
Neutral red+0.24-0.33redcolorless


See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Ram W. Sabnis; Erwin Ross; Jutta Köthe; Renate Naumann; Wolfgang Fischer; Wilhelm-Dietrich Mayer; Gerhard Wieland; Ernest J. Newman; Charles M. Wilson (2009). "Indicator Reagents". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a14_127.pub2. ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2.
  2. ^ HEWITT, LF. "Oxidation-Reduction Potentials in Bacteriology and Biochemistry." Oxidation-Reduction Potentials in Bacteriology and Biochemistry. Edn 6 (1950).

External links edit