Purpose of decolorizing agent

Answer 1

The decolorizer, usually acetone or alcohol, is used to wash the Crystal Violet stain from the Gram Negative cells.

From this point Safranin stain is used to stain the Gram Negative cells. The final color for Gram Negative will be a Red/Pink color.

Answer 2

The decolorizing agent serves two main functions. The first is as a lipid solvent for gram-negative cells. This alcohol will dissolve the outer lipid layers of the cell wall which will ultimately result in these cells appearing colorless. The second function is as a protein-dehydrating agent in gram-positive cells. The pores of these cells will shrink and tighten due to the dehydrating effect of the alcohol, therefore resulting in limited to no removal of the primary stain.

Answer 3

The decolorizer, usually acetone or alcohol, is used to wash the Crystal Violet stain from the Gram Negative cells.

From this point Safranin stain is used to stain the Gram Negative cells. The final color for Gram Negative will be a Red/Pink color.

Answer 4

The decolorizing agent makes sure that the cells that are not supposed to retain the first stain, actually do release it so that the second stain can show the difference. For example when doing a Gram Stain, the first stain is the crystal-violet stain which is retained by the gram-positive bacteria. If the decolorizer isnt applied though, then the gram-negative bacteria will also hold onto the crystal violet stain and then you wont be able to tell the difference. The decolorizer removes the crystal violet only in the gram-negative bacteria so that the counter stain (usually saphranin) can stain the gram-negative bacteria pink so that you can tell the difference between the two types of bacteria.

Answer 5

it will interact with the lipid of the membrane. gram negative will lose its outer membrane n easily counterstained while gram positive will not

Answer 6

what is the purpose of

decolorizing agents in gram staining

Answer 7

All of the above