These are paper strips treated with a natural dye extracted from lichens, employed to ascertain the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. The strips undergo a color change contingent upon the solution’s hydrogen ion concentration. For example, when immersed in an acidic solution, the strip typically turns red, while in an alkaline solution, it turns blue.
They offer a rapid and cost-effective method for approximating pH levels, making them indispensable in various scientific, industrial, and educational settings. Historically, their ease of use and portability have made them a standard tool for preliminary pH assessments, playing a crucial role in quality control, environmental monitoring, and basic laboratory experiments.
