Recipe for Crystal Violet for the Gram Stain

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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.
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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.
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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 August 15, 2022).