Recipe for Crystal Violet for the Gram Stain

Full Frame Shot Of Amethyst
Kenneth Stoneburg / EyeEm / Getty Images
By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
Learn about our Editorial Process
Updated on February 02, 2019

This is the recipe for the crystal violet stain used in the Gram stain and other staining procedures.

Crystal Violet Ingredients

  • 2 g crystal violet
  • 20 ml 95% ethyl alcohol
  • 0.8 g ammonium citrate monohydrate
  • 80 ml deionized water

Prepare Crystal Violet Stain

  1. Dissolve 2 g crystal violet in 20 ml of 95% ethyl alcohol.
  2. Dissolve 0.8 g ammonium oxalate monohydrate in 80 ml deionized water.
  3. Mix the crystal violet and ammonium oxalate monohydrate solutions to make the crystal violet stain. Filter the stain if necessary.
Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Recipe for Crystal Violet for the Gram Stain." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/crystal-violet-for-the-gram-stain-608139. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 28). Recipe for Crystal Violet for the Gram Stain. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/crystal-violet-for-the-gram-stain-608139 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Recipe for Crystal Violet for the Gram Stain." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/crystal-violet-for-the-gram-stain-608139 (accessed March 22, 2023).