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A mordant is an element which aids the chemical reaction that takes place between the dye and the fibre so that the dye is absorbed.

It may also mean incisive or insistent especially in questioning something.

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What mordant is used in the process of gram staining?

The mordant used in the process of gram staining is called crystal violet.


Why is Iodine used in Gram staining?

Iodine is used in Gram staining as a mordant, which helps to bind the crystal violet dye to the cell wall of bacteria. This mordant-iodine complex forms larger complexes with the crystal violet dye, making it difficult for the dye to be washed away during the decolorization step. This allows for differentiation of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria based on their ability to retain the crystal violet dye.


Why does gram-negative bacteria not retain the purple color in the Gram staining procedure?

Gram-negative bacteria do not retain the purple color in the Gram staining procedure because their cell walls have a thinner layer of peptidoglycan, which does not hold the crystal violet dye as effectively as the thicker peptidoglycan layer in Gram-positive bacteria.


What is the function of crystal violet in the gram staining process?

Crystal violet is used in the Gram staining process to initially stain all bacteria purple. This helps differentiate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria based on their ability to retain or lose the crystal violet dye during the staining process.


What is the function of iodine solution in the gram stain?

It allows the primary stain crystal violet to remain in the cell instead of being washed out. Due to the larger size of the crystal violet molecule, when the ethanol is applied (the decolorizer) the stain will not be washed out of the Gram (+) positive cells.

Related Questions

What mordant is used in the process of gram staining?

The mordant used in the process of gram staining is called crystal violet.


What would be the effect of removing the mordant from the gram's staining procedure?

Removing the mordant from the Gram staining procedure would result in poor differentiation between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The mordant helps to fix the crystal violet stain inside the thick peptidoglycan layer of Gram-positive bacteria, leading to their retention of the purple color. Without the mordant, both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria may appear pink after the decolorization step, making it difficult to distinguish between the two groups.


What is the function of sodium bicarbonate with Merthiolate in Gram stain?

Sodium bicarbonate is used to adjust the pH of the staining solution in the Gram stain procedure. Merthiolate is used as a mordant to enhance the crystal violet staining in the Gram stain. Together, they help differentiate between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria based on their cell wall characteristics.


What is the mordant in a gram stain?

Gram's iodine stain is applied after the culture is stained with the primary stain. It acts as a mordant, fixing the primary stain to the cell wall while lending no additional colour to the cell (i.e. the mordant itself is not a stain). The mordant is only able to fix the stain to Gram-positive bacteria because of the characteristic thick, peptidoglycan coat that they possess. Because the mordant is not able to fix the stain to Gram-negative bacteria (who's coat have a different composition), the crystal violet stain will wash away from Gram-negative bacteria when the decolourizing agent is added.


Why is gram's iodine called mordant?

Gram's iodine is called a mordant because it fixes the primary stain to the cell wall and adds any color.


Function of Gram's iodine?

Iodine is used as a mordant in the gram staining procedure to make large crystals when it is used with crystal violet dye. In gram positive cell walls those crystals get stuck and wont get washed off with the alcohol. In gram negative cell walls the crystals are washed out.


Is iodine a basic stain?

No, iodine is not a basic stain. Iodine is commonly used in Gram staining to identify bacteria as either Gram-positive or Gram-negative based on their cell wall composition. It acts as a mordant in the staining process and helps to fix the crystal violet stain in Gram staining.


Why is Iodine used in Gram staining?

Iodine is used in Gram staining as a mordant, which helps to bind the crystal violet dye to the cell wall of bacteria. This mordant-iodine complex forms larger complexes with the crystal violet dye, making it difficult for the dye to be washed away during the decolorization step. This allows for differentiation of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria based on their ability to retain the crystal violet dye.


What is the four staining procedure in bacteriology?

Gram, Ziel-Nielsen


If mordant not applied how will e.coli appear?

Without mordant, E. coli would appear pink or red after Gram staining due to retaining the safranin counterstain, indicating that it is a Gram-negative bacterium. The absence of the mordant would prevent the crystal violet stain from binding strongly to the peptidoglycan layer in the cell wall, leading to this coloration.


What is the mordant reagent for?

Mordant reagents are used in staining techniques to help bind dyes to specific structures. Different mordants are needed for different types of dyes and tissue components. For example, in Gram staining, the mordant reagent is iodine, which helps bind the crystal violet dye to the bacterial cell wall.


Function of iodine in staining?

iodine act as a mordant..on the gram positive bacteria which got really thick and abundence of peptidoglycan layer, the crystal violet will fix to the peptidoglycan layer..meanwhile in gram negative bacteria which is lack of peptidoglycan layer, the alcohol or acetone will wash it away