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Answer the following.
Explain how the colour of solution depends on pH of the solution.
Explain how the colour of $\text{K}_2\text{Cr}_2\text{O}_7$ solution depends on pH of the solution.
Answer
Answer
Official answer keyDichromate ($\mathrm{Cr_2O_7^{2-}}$, orange) and chromate ($\mathrm{CrO_4^{2-}}$, yellow) ions are in equilibrium: $\mathrm{Cr_2O_7^{2-} + 2OH^- \rightleftharpoons 2CrO_4^{2-} + H_2O}$.
On adding alkali the pH increases and the solution changes from orange to yellow; on adding acid the pH decreases and it changes from yellow back to orange.
$\mathrm{K_2Cr_2O_7 + 2KOH \rightarrow 2K_2CrO_4 + H_2O}$ (orange to yellow)
$\mathrm{2K_2CrO_4 + H_2SO_4 \rightarrow K_2Cr_2O_7 + K_2SO_4 + H_2O}$ (yellow to orange)
From ISC 2026 Specimen Chemistry Paper 1, question 13(ii).