Question

Which indicator produces a pink colour in an alkaline solution?
(A) Methyl orange
(B) Turmeric paper
(C) Phenolphthalein
(D) Litmus paper

Answer 1

Hint: The indicator shows the change in colour as the acidic condition changes to basic. This leads to neutralization of the proton (from the indicator) and leaving behind the anion part, which absorbs the visible light.

Complete step by step solution:
The indicators are often used in the acid-base titration as their colour varies with the change in the pH of the solution. Thus, indicating the endpoints of the acid or base in the solution.
One of the indicators which produce a pink colour in the alkaline solution is the Phenolphthalein indicator. It is colourless in acidic medium, but on adding base it changes to dark pink colour. Hence, used in acid-base titrations.
This happens because phenolphthalein $(HIn)$ being a weak acid, it dissociates partially on dissolving in the water giving ${{H}^{+}}$ ions and anion $I{{n}^{-}}$, with the colour change from colourless to pink.
$HIn(aq)+{{H}_{2}}O(l)\rightleftharpoons I{{n}^{-}}(aq)+{{H}_{3}}{{O}^{+}}(aq)$
But when the base is added to this solution, these protons are neutralised by it, thus shifting the equilibrium towards the right side, due to which more anions are formed in the solution and it becomes visibly pink.

The anion is stabilised through resonance to form the quinoid structure. Thus, it is due to this quinoid structure formed by the breaking of a C-O bond, after the dissociation of the proton, that the Phenolphthalein shows pink colour.

Hence, answer is option (C).

Note: In the alkaline solution, the methyl orange indicator shows a yellow colour; the turmeric paper shows a red colour and the red litmus changes to blue. For the equilibrium, Le Chatelier’s principle is followed and the pink colour can be seen because the quinoid structure formed absorbs the visible light.