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94448

Sigma-Aldrich

Gram′s crystal violet solution

for microscopy

Synonym(s):

Basic violet 3; gentian violet; hexamethyl pararosaniline; methyl violet 10B

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About This Item

UNSPSC Code:
12171500
NACRES:
MA.02

grade

for microscopy

Quality Level

200

product line

BioChemika

form

liquid

shelf life

limited shelf life, expiry date on the label

technique(s)

microbe id | staining: suitable

color

purple to very dark purple

density

0.981 g/mL at 20 °C

εmax

33.8 at 585-595 nm in water

suitability

suitable for microscopy

antibiotic activity spectrum

Gram-negative bacteria
Gram-positive bacteria

application(s)

diagnostic assay manufacturing
hematology
histology

storage temp.

room temp

Related Categories

General description

Gram’s crystal violet solution, also known as gentian violet or hexamethyl pararosaniline, is a basic, cationic, acidotropic aminoarylmethane dye. It is a hexa-N-methylated triaminotriphenylmethane with a moderately sized lipophilic cation and a slightly nonplanar conjugated system. It is used in bacteriology as the primary stain in Gram staining to differentiate Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It is known to possess antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Application

  • Crystal violet is routinely used for Gram staining and its variants, staining amyloid, bacterial components, and vascular plant tissues.
  • It is used in polychrome staining of epoxy resin sections, viability staining of cultured neurons, and confocal optical sectioning to analyze meiotic structures.
  • It is also employed in the acridine orange-crystal violet staining of intracellular bacteria, microsporidian spores, and cytological smears.

Biochem/physiol Actions

The antimicrobial effects of crystal violet are caused by free radical generation and the formation of unionized dye-bacteria complexes. It also inhibits bacterial protein synthesis and cell wall formation and is especially effective against Gram-positive bacteria.

Principle

Crystal violet is the primary stain in Gram staining. It infiltrates the peptidoglycan-rich cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria, and forms complexes with Gram’s iodine that are entrapped and retain the purple color even after decolorization. Thus, Gram-positive bacteria can be differentiated from Gram-negative bacteria whose peptidoglycan layer is considerably thinner and does not retain crystal violet.

Signal Word

Warning

Hazard Statements

H226,H319,H351,H412

Hazard Classifications

Aquatic Chronic 3 - Carc. 2 - Eye Irrit. 2 - Flam. Liq. 3

Storage Class Code

3 - Flammable liquids

WGK

WGK 2

Flash Point(F)

93.2 °F

Flash Point(C)

34 °C

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

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Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Lot/Batch Number
BCCG6439
BCCF3442
BCCD2679
BCCC0987
BCBZ7533

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