DIARY OF A BIOCHEM MAJOR

Long week was long…Genetics test, lab meeting, biochem homework, lab report, and a history paper (c-c-c-combo breaker!) were due within two days of each other. Sleep did not happen at all.

Now I would like to bring this great molecule brought to you by carbon65! If you ever had a chemistry class you probably used this compound, and if you are anything like me, you hated it by the end of the day.

Phenylphthalein is typically used in titrations as it changes color from either orange to colorless at around a pH of 7 or from pink to a purple-pink color around 10ish. Phenylphthalein changes color due to several chemical reactions that happen as the pH increases. As the pH goes up, the molecule goes through several chemical and geometric shifts which cause the solution to change color. When the structure of the molecule changes, the electron cloud does so as well. When electrons get excited, they can jump up to a higher energy level. However, they typically fall back down to lower energy level and release a photon in the process. If the chemical structure is just right, that photon can be in the visible range and boom you get a colored solution!

Fun fact: I’m partially color blind so I suck at titrations. Every time I did one, I had to keep going up to TA and asking “Is it done yet?”. Thank goodness I never see those diabolical experiments anymore.

I actually did caffeine awhile ago! Enjoy!