Crystal Violet
SIAL/61135 - suitable for microscopy
Synonym: Basic Violet 3; Gentian Violet; Hexamethylpararosaniline chloride; Methyl Violet 10B
CAS Number: 548-62-9
Empirical Formula (Hill Notation): C25H30ClN3
Molecular Weight: 407.98
MDL Number: MFCD00011750
Linear Formula: C25H30N3Cl
Product Type: Chemical
| ε (extinction coefficient) | ≥1750 at 585-595 nm in water |
| antibiotic activity spectrum | fungi |
| application(s) | diagnostic assay manufacturing hematology histology |
| color | green to very dark green |
| density | 1.190 g/cm3 |
| form | powder |
| InChI | 1S/C25H30N3.ClH/c1-26(2)2 |
| InChI key | ZXJXZNDDNMQXFV-UHFFFAOYSA |
| mode of action | cell membrane | interferes |
| enzyme | inhibits | |
| mp | 205 °C (dec.) (lit.) |
| Quality Level | 200  |
| SMILES string | [Cl-].CN(C)c1ccc(cc1)C(c |
| storage temp. | room temp |
| suitability | suitable for microscopy |
| suitable for microscopy (Bact., Bot., Hist., Vit.) | |
| technique(s) | microbe id | staining: suitable |
| visual transition interval | 0.1-2.0, yellow-green to blue-violet |
| Application: | • Crystal violet is mainly used in Gram staining and its variants, and for 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: | Gram staining is used to differentiate bacteria based on their cell wall structure. Gram-positive bacteria have a thicker cell wall with more peptidoglycan and less lipid content, while gram-negative bacteria have a thinner cell wall with less peptidoglycan and more lipid content. During the staining process, crystal violet is applied to the bacteria, followed by the iodine to form a complex that fixes the dye. A decolorizer is then used to remove the dye from gram-negative bacteria by dissolving their lipid layer. Gram-positive bacteria retain the dye due to the dehydration and shrinking of their cell walls. A counterstain, such as safranin or basic fuchsin, is applied to impart a pink color to decolorized gram-negative bacteria. |
| Biochem/physiol Actions: | The antimicrobial properties of crystal violet are due to free radical generation and the formation of unionized dye-bacteria complexes. It inhibits bacterial protein synthesis and cell wall formation and is especially effective against Gram-positive bacteria. |
| General description: | Crystal violet, also known as Basic Violet 3 or Gentian Violet, is a basic, cationic aminoarylmethane dye. It is the N-hexamethylated derivative of pararosaniline and bears a lipophilic cation. It is primarily used in bacteriology and microscopy as the primary stain in Gram staining to classify and distinguish between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It is indicator grade, exhibiting a color transition from yellow-green in acidic conditions to blue-violet in basic conditions. It also possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties. |
| Symbol |     GHS05,GHS07,GHS08,GHS09 |
| Signal word | Danger |
| Hazard statements | H302 - H318 - H341 - H350 - H410 |
| Precautionary statements | P201 - P273 - P280 - P301 + P312 - P305 + P351 + P338 - P308 + P313 |
| Hazard Codes | T,N |
| Risk Statements | 45-22-41-50/53-68 |
| Safety Statements | 53-26-36/37/39-45-61 |
| RIDADR | UN 3077 9 / PGIII |
| WGK Germany | WGK 3 |
| Flash Point(F) | Not applicable |
| Flash Point(C) | Not applicable |
| mp | 205 °C (dec.) (lit.) |
| Density | 1.190 g/cm3 |
| Storage Temp. | room temp |
| Colour Index Number | 42555 |
| UNSPSC | 12171500 |