Elsevier

Journal of Luminescence

Volume 10, Issue 6, July–August 1975, Pages 381-390
Journal of Luminescence

The pH dependence of fluorescein fluorescence

https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-2313(75)90003-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Fluorescence quantum yields Φf and corrected fluorescence spectra were determined for fluorescein over a wide pH range (10 M H2SO4 to 0.01 M NaOH) in aqueous solution. The results were interpreted by comparison with those obtained for the very similar dye 6-hydroxy-9-phenyl-fluoron (HPF) which lacks the fluorescein carboxyl group. We find for the fluorescein cation Φf = 0.9−1, for the neutral molecule Φf = 0.20−0.25, and for the monoanion Φf = 0.25−0.35. The neutral molecule and monoanion have identical fluorescence spectra: an emission with maximum at 515 nm, extending to about 700 nm. (The dianion also has a maximum at 515 nm but has a more narrow emission band.) The fluorescein cation dissociates in the excited state at an acidity corresponding to that of ≈3 M H2SO4. A detailed scheme of the protolytic reactions of fluorescein in the excited state is presented.

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