Universal indictor in water. The colour of the solution is being compared to a chart on the bottle of indicator, showing that it has a pH near 7. Universal indicator (UI) is a mixture of chemicals that changes colour depending on the pH (acidity) of its environment. The pH scale runs from 1 (strong acid) through 7 (neutral) to 14 (strong alkali). In strong acids it is red, turning orange then yellow as the pH increases. In water it is yellow/green, and it turns blue then purple in successively stronger alkalis. See images A500/487 and A500/489 for an acidic and alkaline solution respectively.