Application of a xanthene dye, eosin Y, as spectroscopic probe in chemical and pharmaceutical analysis; a review

Abstract Eosin Y (EY) is an acidic xanthene dye which is mainly used in food stuff and biological staining. Various analytical methods have been reported for the utility of this dye in the quantitative determination of several pharmaceutical compounds, heavy metals in addition to some surfactants and proteins. Most of the applied methods were based on the formation of association complexes between eosin Y and the target analytes in buffered aqueous solutions. The present article represents a comprehensive review for the use of eosin Y as a probe in analytical chemistry.