In strongly acidic solutions, it produces an intensely yellow color, due to the formation of a stable "trityl" carbocation.

[3] Triphenylmethanol features three phenyl (Ph) rings and an alcohol group bound to a central tetrahedral carbon atom.

Typical of alcohols, resonance offers no stabilization of the conjugate base due to being bonded to a saturated carbon atom.

Stabilization of the anion by solvation forces is largely ineffective due to the steric influence of the three phenyl groups.

The preparation of triphenylmethanol from methyl benzoate or benzophenone and phenylmagnesium bromide is a common laboratory experiment for illustrating the Grignard reaction.