At equilibrium, the following equilibrium equation is
established with its conjugate base:
Mg2+(H2O)6
(aq) + H2O (l) Mg2+(H2O)5(OH-)
(aq) + H3O+
(aq)
acid
conjugate base
The acid and its conjugate base have different colours. At low pH values the
concentration of H3O+
is high and so
the equilibrium position lies to the left. The equilibrium solution has the colour A. At high pH values, the
concentration of H3O+
is low - the equilibrium position thus lies to the right and the equilibrium
solution has colour B.