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 as pH increases, typically around pH 3.0 to 4.6. Commonly added to sample buffers in DNA and protein gel electrophoresis to visualize migration. Also serves as a tracking dye due to its distinct color, helping researchers estimate how far the samples have moved through the gel. Its visibility and pH sensitivity make it useful in various biochemical assays where real-time pH monitoring is needed.