Electronic Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of Fluorescein in Aprotic Solvents

Abstract
The absorption, excitation and fluorescence spectra of fluorescein in ethyl acetate and acetone were obtained. It was verified that the neutral lactonic form of fluorescein is present in dilute solutions of those organic solvents. However, in concentrated solutions it was observed a shift of the dissociation equilibrium to form the neutral zwitterionic form of the dye in both electronic ground and excited states.