Methyl orange in a basic solution is which color?

Methyl orange in a basic solution is which color?

• A. Red
• B. Yellow
• C. Blue
• D. Pink

Answer: (B)

Indicators show different colors because they exist in two forms that interconvert with the acidity of the solution. Methyl orange has a red form when it’s in acidic conditions and a yellow form when it’s deprotonated in basic conditions. In basic solutions, the deprotonated form dominates, so the color seen is yellow. That’s why yellow is the correct choice. The red color would occur in strongly acidic solutions, and blue or pink aren’t colors methyl orange exhibits in its usual pH range.

Indicators show different colors because they exist in two forms that interconvert with the acidity of the solution. Methyl orange has a red form when it’s in acidic conditions and a yellow form when it’s deprotonated in basic conditions. In basic solutions, the deprotonated form dominates, so the color seen is yellow. That’s why yellow is the correct choice. The red color would occur in strongly acidic solutions, and blue or pink aren’t colors methyl orange exhibits in its usual pH range.