Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Dispersion of Nanomaterials in Aqueous Media: Towards Protocol Optimization
Published on: December 25, 2017
A Highly Selective and Sensitive Colorimetric Probe for Cu2+ Determination in Aqueous Media Based on Derivative of
Yawei Liang1, Xinna Wang1, Huanle Fang2
1Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northwest University.
Abstract:
A new colorimetric probe, based on tryptanthrin derivative (TR-A), has been successfully synthesized. The probe shows good selectivity and sensitivity for Cu2+ over 12 competing metal ions in a 10 mM Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 5.5). A significant peak at 623nm appears in the UV-Vis absorption of TR-A-Cu2+, and a noteworthy color change is observed with the naked eye from aquamarine blue to light orange. The interaction of TR-A and Cu2+ are proven to form a 1:1 binding stoichiometry; this identifying is expected to be completed within 1 min. The probe with a limit of detection (16 nM, R2 = 0.9934) shows excellent potential to determine Cu2+ in analysis systems.
Related Concept Videos
Chemical Reactions in Aqueous Solutions
Leveling Effect and Non-Aqueous Acid-Base Solutions
The Leveling Effect of a Solvent
A generic acid (HA) reacts with the generic base (B-) to yield the corresponding conjugate base (A-) and conjugate acid (HB):
Aqueous Solutions and Heats of Hydration
When ionic compounds dissolve in water, the ions in the solid separate and disperse uniformly throughout the solution because water molecules surround and solvate the ions, reducing the strong electrostatic forces between them. This process...
Base Quantities and Derived Quantities
The International Organization for...
Determining the pH of Salt Solutions
What is Natural Selection?

