Phenol red is a water-soluble dye used as a pH indicator, changing from yellow to red over pH 6.6 to 8.0, and then turning a bright pink color above pH 8.1. As such, phenol red can be used as a pH indicator dye in various medical and cell biology tests.

Application

Phenol red, also known as phenolsulfonphthalein, is a pH indicator dye that exhibits a gradual transition from yellow to red over a pH range of 6.2 to 8.2 (Figure 2). Above 8.2 the dye turns a bright fuchsia color.