An acid-base indicator is a conjugate acid-base pair in which the acid is a different colour to the base.

Using Litmus as an example write the undissociated molecules as HL and the dissociated molecules as
H+ and L- at equilibrium.
HL H+ + L-
When an acid is added H+ ion concentration increases and so equilibrium shifts to the left and the
colour changes to red. When alkaline is added OH- ion concentration increases which the reacts with
the H+ ions present to form water and so there is a decrease in H+ concentration therefore
equilibrium shifts to the right and the colour changes to blue. Indicators change colour at specific H+
concentration ranges and are typically destroyed by extremes of this range.
Indicators don't change colour sharply at one particular pH. Instead, they change over a narrow range
of pH.

Assume the equilibrium is firmly to one side, but now you add something to start to shift it. As the
equilibrium shifts, you will start to get more and more of the second colour formed, and at some point
the eye will start to detect it. For example, suppose you had methyl orange in an alkaline solution so
that the dominant colour was yellow. Now start to add acid so that the equilibrium begins to shift. At
some point there will be enough of the red form of the methyl orange present that the solution will
begin to take on an orange tint. As you go on adding more acid, the red will eventually become so
dominant that you can no longer see any yellow.

There is a gradual smooth change from one colour to the other, taking place over a range of pH
The equivalence point of a chemical reaction is the point at which chemically equivalent quantities of
bases and acids have been mixed. In other words, the moles of acid are equivalent to the moles of
base, according to the equation.
From our observations it was seen that the indicator which is suitable for the titration of a strong acid
and a strong alkali is methyl orange. The change in pH around the equivalence point for this reaction
was give to be 3-11 resulting in …………………….. It was also seen that the indicator which is suitable for
the titration of a weak acid and a strong alkali is Phenolphthalein. The change in pH around the
equivalence point for this reaction was give to be 7-11 resulting in ……………………..