Used as a pH indicator in laboratory applications, particularly in electrophoresis gels to monitor the progress of separation. It changes color from yellow to blue around pH 3.0 to 4.6, making it useful for tracking the migration of molecules during gel runs. Also serves as a visual tracer in chromatography and other analytical techniques due to its distinct color and solubility in aqueous and semi-aqueous systems. Commonly included in loading buffers for DNA and protein gels to provide real-time visualization of sample movement.