Crystal violet
Crystal Violet
Crystal violet (pronounced: /ˈkrɪstl ˈvaɪəlɪt/), also known as gentian violet and methyl violet 10B, is a triarylmethane dye used for histological staining and in Gram's method of classifying bacteria.
Etymology
The name "crystal violet" comes from its violet crystal-like appearance. The term "gentian violet" is derived from its use as a basic dye, which was similar to the color of gentian flowers. The name "methyl violet 10B" refers to its chemical structure, which includes methyl groups.
Usage
Crystal violet is used in biology as a Gram stain to differentiate Gram-positive bacteria from Gram-negative bacteria. It is also used in the preparation of Giemsa stain, another type of histological stain. In medicine, it is used as a topical antiseptic.
Related Terms
- Triarylmethane dye: A class of dyes that includes crystal violet.
- Gram stain: A method of staining bacteria using crystal violet.
- Giemsa stain: A type of histological stain that uses crystal violet.
- Gram-positive bacteria: Bacteria that retain the crystal violet stain in Gram's method.
- Gram-negative bacteria: Bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain in Gram's method.
Safety
Crystal violet is potentially toxic and carcinogenic, and it can cause skin and eye irritation. It is also harmful if swallowed or inhaled.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Crystal violet
- Wikipedia's article - Crystal violet
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