Redox indicator
Indicator which undergoes a definite color change at a specific electrode potential
title: "Redox indicator" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["redox-indicators", "physical-chemistry"] description: "Indicator which undergoes a definite color change at a specific electrode potential" topic_path: "science/chemistry" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redox_indicator" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Indicator which undergoes a definite color change at a specific electrode potential ::
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.
There are two common classes of redox indicators:
- metal complexes of phenanthroline and bipyridine. In these systems, the metal changes oxidation state.
- organic redox systems such as methylene blue. In these systems, a proton participates in the redox reaction. Therefore, sometimes redox indicators are also divided into two general groups: independent or dependent on pH.
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
::data[format=table]
| Indicator | E0, V | Color of Oxidized form | Color of Reduced form |
|---|---|---|---|
| [RuIII/II(2,2'-bipyridine)3] | +1.33 | green | orange |
| Nitrophenanthroline (Fe complex) | +1.25 | cyan | red |
| N-Phenylanthranilic acid | +1.08 | violet-red | colorless |
| 1,10-Phenanthroline iron(II) sulfate complex (Ferroin) | +1.06 | cyan | red |
| N-Ethoxychrysoidine | +1.00 | red | yellow |
| 2,2`-Bipyridine (Fe complex) | +0.97 | cyan | red |
| 5,6-Dimethylphenanthroline (Fe complex) | +0.97 | yellow-green | cyan |
| o-Dianisidine | +0.85 | red | colorless |
| Sodium diphenylamine sulfonate | +0.84 | red-violet | colorless |
| Diphenylbenzidine | +0.76 | violet | colorless |
| Diphenylamine | +0.76 | violet | colorless |
| Viologen | -0.43 | colorless | blue |
| :: |
pH dependent
::data[format=table]
| Indicator | E0, V | E, V | Color of | Color of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium 2,6-Dibromophenol-indophenol | +0.64 | +0.22 | blue | colorless |
| Sodium o-Cresol indophenol | +0.62 | +0.19 | blue | colorless |
| Thionine (syn. Lauth's violet) | +0.56 | +0.06 | violet | colorless |
| Methylene blue | +0.53 | +0.01 | blue | colorless |
| Indigotetrasulfonic acid | +0.37 | -0.05 | blue | colorless |
| Indigotrisulfonic acid | +0.33 | -0.08 | blue | colorless |
| Indigo carmine | +0.29 | -0.13 | blue | colorless |
| Indigomono sulfonic acid | +0.26 | -0.16 | blue | colorless |
| Phenosafranin | +0.28 | -0.25 | red | colorless |
| Safranin T | +0.24 | -0.29 | red-violet | colorless |
| Neutral red | +0.24 | -0.33 | red | colorless |
| :: |
References
References
- Ram W. Sabnis. (2009). "Indicator Reagents". Wiley-VCH.
- HEWITT, LF. "Oxidation-Reduction Potentials in Bacteriology and Biochemistry." Oxidation-Reduction Potentials in Bacteriology and Biochemistry. Edn 6 (1950).
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::