Crystal violet is a purple dye used in microbiology for staining cells, particularly in the Gram staining procedure. It helps differentiate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria based on cell wall properties.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Crystal violet is the primary stain in the Gram staining technique.
It binds to peptidoglycan layers in bacterial cell walls, making Gram-positive bacteria appear purple.
After crystal violet application, iodine is used as a mordant to form a crystal violet-iodine complex.
Gram-negative bacteria do not retain crystal violet after decolorization with alcohol or acetone due to their thinner peptidoglycan layer.
Crystal violet is also known as gentian violet and has antiseptic properties.