The presence of inorganic anions, particularly chloride (Cl⁻), nitrate (NO₃⁻), and sulfate (SO₄²⁻), in aquatic environments and food products necessitates effective monitoring. Excessive concentrations of these anions may compromise fishery product quality and pose risks to human health. This study presents a visual screening approach for Cl⁻ ions that leverages comparative colorimetric responses of NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ ions. The method employs a colorimetric indicator that generates distinct color changes upon interaction with target anions, allowing distinct visual differentiation between Cl- ions and competing anions. Experimental results demonstrate a marked and concentration-dependent color change toward Cl⁻ ions in the 10–100 µM range, whereas NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻ elicit only weak or negligible visual responses, even at higher concentrations. The strong contrast in visual response underscores the selectivity of this screening strategy toward Cl- ions. These findings suggest that the approach has potential as a rapid, practical, and cost-effective method for preliminary screening of inorganic anions in environmental and food monitoring applications.
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