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 (Jmol)

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^Y

Key: MCPLVIGCWWTHFH-UHFFFAOYSA-L^Y
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(=C\4/C=C\C(=[NH+]/c3ccc(cc3)S([O-])(=O)=O)/C=C/4)c6ccc(Nc5ccc(cc5)S([O-])(=O)=O)cc6

Properties

C₃₇H₂₇N₃Na₂O₉S₃

799.814 g/mol

Appearance

red solid

Soluble in water, slightly soluble in ethanol

Hazards

Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

(what is ^YN ?)

Methyl blue is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C₃₇H₂₇N₃Na₂O₉S₃. It is used as a stain in histology, 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.