Methyl orange, sodium salt
Description
A pale, orange powder used as an acid-base indicator. Methyl orange is an azo dye that was discovered by several workers near the same time period: P. Griess in 1875; O.N. Witt in 1876; and Z. Roussin in 1876. As an indicator, methyl orange forms a red color below pH 3.1, turns orange above pH 4.4 and becomes yellow in alkaline solutions. It is used for titrating mineral acids. Methyl orange is also used for dyeing textiles.
Synonyms and Related Terms
4-[[(4-dimethylamino)phenyl]-azo]benzenesulfonic acid sodium salt; sodium p-dimethylaminoazobenzenesulfonate; helianthine B; Acid Orange 52; CI 13025; Orange III; Gold Orange; Topaeolin D
Other Properties
Soluble in hot water. Insoluble in ethanol.
| Composition | (CH3)2NC6H4NNC6H4SO3Na |
|---|---|
| CAS | 547-58-0 |
| Density | 1.00 |
| Molecular Weight | mol. wt.=327.34 |
Hazards and Safety
Toxic by ingestion. Inhalation and skin contact may cause irritation.
Mallinckrodt Baker: MSDS
Sources Checked for Data in Record
- The Merck Index, Susan Budavari (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Whitehouse Station, NJ, 12th Edition, 1996 Comment: entry 6180
- Colour Index International online at www.colour-index.org
- Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
- Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993