Methylene blue

Description

Dark green crystals that form a deep blue aqueous solution. Methylene blue was first prepared in 1876 by Caro. It is a synthetic aniline dye that was used a lightfast colorant for cotton, silk, and wool (often with zinc as a mordant). Methylene blue is used as a biological stain for bacteria and as an indicator in oxidation-reduction reactions. Methylene blue is also used as a disinfectant and an antidote for cyanide poisoning.

Synonyms and Related Terms

methylthionine chloride; Basic Blue 9; CI 52015; Solvent Blue 8; 3,7-bis(dimethylamino)phenothiazin-5-ium chloride; azul de metileno (Esp.); azul de metileno (Port.); methyl blue; solvent blue; Basic Lake Blue; Swiss blue

Chemical structure

Other Properties

Soluble in water, ethanol, chloroform. pH of aq. solution = 3 - 4.5

Insoluble in ether.

Composition	C16H18N3SCl-3H2O
CAS	61-73-4
Melting Point	190 (dec)
Molecular Weight	mol. wt. = 319.85

Hazards and Safety

Toxic by ingestion and inhalation. Contact may cause irritation.

Potential teratogen.

Flammable. Flash point = 178 C.

Fisher Scientific: MSDS

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 6137

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

• A.Scharff, 'Synthetic dyestuffs for textiles and their fastness to washing', ICOM-CC Preprints Lyon, Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, 1999

• Colour Index International online at www.colour-index.org