Methyl blue
Solid methyl blue
Methyl blue aqueous solution
Names
Other names
Cotton blue, Helvetia blue, Acid blue 93, C.I. 42780
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.044.852 Edit this at Wikidata
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C37H29N3O9S3.2Na/c41-50(42,43)34-19-13-31(14-20-34)38-28-7-1-25(2-8-28)37(26-3-9-29(10-4-26)39-32-15-21-35(22-16-32)51(44,45)46)27-5-11-30(12-6-27)40-33-17-23-36(24-18-33)52(47,48)49;;/h1-24,38-39H,(H,41,42,43)(H,44,45,46)(H,47,48,49);;/q;2*+1/p-2 checkY
    Key: MCPLVIGCWWTHFH-UHFFFAOYSA-L checkY
  • InChI=1/C37H29N3O9S3.2Na/c41-50(42,43)34-19-13-31(14-20-34)38-28-7-1-25(2-8-28)37(26-3-9-29(10-4-26)39-32-15-21-35(22-16-32)51(44,45)46)27-5-11-30(12-6-27)40-33-17-23-36(24-18-33)52(47,48)49;;/h1-24,38-39H,(H,41,42,43)(H,44,45,46)(H,47,48,49);;/q;2*+1/p-2
    Key: MCPLVIGCWWTHFH-NUQVWONBAI
  • [Na+].[Na+].[O-]S(=O)(=O)c1ccc(cc1)Nc2ccc(cc2)C(=C4C=CC(=[NH+]c3ccc(cc3)S([O-])(=O)=O)C=C4)c6ccc(Nc5ccc(cc5)S([O-])(=O)=O)cc6
Properties
C37H27N3Na2O9S3
Molar mass 799.814 g/mol
Appearance red solid
Soluble in water, slightly soluble in ethanol
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g. turpentineFlammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
1
1
0
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Methyl blue is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C37H27N3Na2O9S3. It is used as a stain in histology,[1] and stains collagen blue in tissue sections. It can be used in some differential staining techniques such as Mallory's connective tissue stain and Gömöri trichrome stain, and can be used to mediate electron transfer in microbial fuel cells. Fungal cell walls are also stained by methyl blue.

Methyl blue is also available in mixture with water blue, under name Aniline Blue WS, Aniline blue, China blue, or Soluble blue; and in a solution of phenol, glycerol, and lactic acid under the name Lactophenol cotton blue (LPCB), which is used for microscopic visualization of fungi.

Chemistry

Methyl blue ([[4-[Bis[4-[(sulfophenyl)amino]phenyl]methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene]amino]-benzenesulfonic acid disodium salt) is distinctly different to methylene blue ([7-(dimethylamino)phenothiazin-3-ylidene]-dimethylazanium;chloride) in structure, function and uses, and must not be confused.[2]

Its uses include staining histology samples for collagen,[3] and for fungal structures.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ R. W. Sabnis (2010). Handbook of Biological Dyes and Stains: Synthesis and Industrial Applications. John Wiley & Sons. p. 24.
  2. ^ "Methyl Blue". sigmaaldrich.com. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Methyl blue sodium salt, Histology stain for collagen (CAS 28983-56-4) (Ab146271)".
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2020-08-29.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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