Skip to Content
MilliporeSigma
All Photos(2)

Key Documents

94448

Sigma-Aldrich

Gram′s crystal violet solution

for microscopy

Synonym(s):

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

Sign Into View Organizational & Contract Pricing
All Photos(2)

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.

signalword

Warning

Hazard Classifications

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

Storage Class

3 - Flammable liquids

wgk_germany

WGK 2

flash_point_f

93.2 °F

flash_point_c

34 °C

ppe

Eyeshields, Faceshields, Gloves, type ABEK (EN14387) respirator filter

Choose from one of the most recent versions:

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Lot/Batch Number
BCCG6439
BCCF3442
BCCD2679
BCCC0987
BCBZ7533

Don't see the Right Version?

If you require a particular version, you can look up a specific certificate by the Lot or Batch number.

Search for a COA

Already Own This Product?

Find documentation for the products that you have recently purchased in the Document Library.

Visit the Document Library

Mantas Šilkūnas et al.
The Journal of membrane biology, 249(5), 611-621 (2016-04-06)
In this study, the role of the cell plasma membrane as a barrier in the mechanism of the cytotoxicity of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates and menadione was studied, and the possibility of increasing the efficiency of bisphosphonates and menadione (vitamin K
Oihana Gordobil et al.
International journal of biological macromolecules, 135, 353-361 (2019-05-28)
Kraft lignin is a polyphenolic compound generated as a by-product from the kraft pulping process in large quantities annually worldwide. In addition to its commercial availability, its structural features make it worth to be considered in the pharmaceutical area. The

Articles

Clostridia Diagnostic

Clostridia are relatively large, gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria that can undergo only anaerobic metabolism.

Clostridium perfringens, their Properties and their Detection

Clostridium perfringens can cause contamination in undercooked or improperly sterillized canned foods and water. Learn to detect, identify, and differentiate this pathogen.

On the Trail of Campylobacter

On the Trail of Campylobacter - The Campylobacter is one of the leading causes of human gastroenteritis. Common Campylobacter species C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari are responsible for most cases of campylobacteriosis. However, other species, like C. fetus, which causes spontaneous abortions, have also been associated with human illness. Campylobacter are Gram-negative, spiral-shaped, microaerophilic and motile bacteria with uni- or bi-polar fl agella

Identification of Microorganisms Based on Color

For microbiologists the most fundamental stain was developed in 1884 by the Danish bacteriologist Hans Christian Gram.

See All

Our team of scientists has experience in all areas of research including Life Science, Material Science, Chemical Synthesis, Chromatography, Analytical and many others.

Contact Technical Service