Bromphenol blue

Bromphenol Blue is a chemical compound used as a pH indicator in molecular biology laboratories. It is a member of the class of compounds known as triphenylmethane dyes, which are used in a variety of scientific and industrial applications.

Chemical Properties

Bromphenol blue is a dark purple crystalline powder that is soluble in water and alcohol. It has a molecular formula of C19H10Br4O5S and a molecular weight of 669.96 g/mol. The compound has a pKa value of 4.0, which means it can act as an acid in solution.

Uses

Bromphenol blue is primarily used as a tracking dye for DNA/RNA in agarose gel electrophoresis. It is also used as a color marker to monitor the process of agarose gel electrophoresis and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition, bromphenol blue is used as a pH indicator, changing from yellow at pH 3.0 to purple at pH 4.6.

Safety

Bromphenol blue is considered a low hazard compound. However, it can cause irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. It is recommended to handle the compound with appropriate protective clothing and in a well-ventilated area.

See Also

• pH indicator
• Agarose gel electrophoresis
• Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
• Triphenylmethane dyes