The Effect of Acids on Litmus Paper: Color Change and pH Indication

What effect do acids have on litmus paper?

Acids have a distinct effect on litmus paper, causing it to change color

Acids have a distinct effect on litmus paper, causing it to change color. Litmus paper is a commonly used pH indicator, and it helps determine whether a substance is acidic or basic.

Litmus paper is typically made from a mixture of dyes extracted from lichens. These dyes have the ability to change color depending on the pH of the solution they come in contact with.

When an acid comes into contact with litmus paper, it donates protons (H+) to the litmus dye molecules. This causes a chemical reaction that alters the structure of the dye, resulting in a color change. The specific color change depends on the acidity of the solution.

In general, litmus paper turns red under acidic conditions. This is because the acid donates H+ ions to the litmus dye, causing it to undergo a reaction that shifts the molecule’s color to red. The greater the acidity of the solution, the more intense the color change to red will be.

On the other hand, litmus paper remains blue or purple in the presence of a basic (alkaline) solution. This is because the basic solution does not donate protons to the litmus dye, and therefore, the structure of the dye remains unchanged.

It is important to note that litmus paper is not a precise pH indicator, as its color changes occur over a wide range of pH values. For more accurate pH measurements, pH strips or electronic pH meters are preferred.

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