Resumen de Analysis of Citric Acid in Beverages:: Use of an Indicator Displacement Assay

Alona P. Umali, Eric C. Anslyn, Aaron T. Wright, Clifford R. Blieden, Carolyne K. Smith, Tian Tian, Jennifer A. Truong, Caitlin E. Crumm, Jorge E. Garcia, Soal Lee, Meredith Mosier, Chester P. Nguyen

• The use of an indicator displacement assay permits the visualization of binding events between host and guest molecules. An undergraduate laboratory experiment is described to demonstrate the technique in the determination of citric acid content in commercially available beverages such as soda pop and fruit juices. Through the technique, students can learn supramolecular and analytical chemistry concepts via a practical, real-world application.