A laboratory indicator is a substance that changes color in the presence of an acid or a base. It helps us determine the nature of a solution, whether it is acidic or basic.
Out of the given options, Phenolphthalein is a common laboratory indicator for bases.
Phenolphthalein is a colorless compound that turns pink or purple in the presence of a base. It is widely used because it has a clear and distinct color change, making it easy to identify the presence of a base. When a base is added to a solution containing phenolphthalein, the compound undergoes a chemical reaction and changes its structure, resulting in a change in color.
Methyl orange, on the other hand, is a laboratory indicator for acids. It changes color in the presence of an acid but remains unchanged in the presence of a base.
Bromothymol blue is another laboratory indicator commonly used to test for acids and bases. It turns yellow in the presence of an acid and blue in the presence of a base.
Litmus is a natural dye extracted from lichens. It is a general indicator that turns red in the presence of an acid and blue in the presence of a base.
However, out of the options provided, Phenolphthalein is the specific laboratory indicator commonly used to test for bases.