Rhodamine 6G
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Description
A strong, bright red fluorescent dye that was developed in 1892 by Bernthsen. Rhodamine 6G is the ethyl ester of diethyldiamino-o-carboxy-phenyl-xanthenyl chloride. It is used as a dye (textiles, paper) and as a lake pigment (inks, oil paints, plastics).
Synonyms and Related Terms
CI 45160; Rhodamine 590; Basic Red 1; Pigment Red 81 (phosphotungstomolybdic acid salt); Pigment Red 169 (copper ferrocyanide salt)
Risks
- Toxic if swallowed. Carcinogenic
- Can cause eye damage and allergic skin reactions
- ThermoFischer: SDS
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Color = Red/brown powder or crystals
- Commonly suppled as a chloride salt
- Highly fluorescent (a maximum absorption at 530 emission at 548-556 nm)
- Soluble in alcohols; slightly soluble in water
- Composition = C26H26N2O3Cl (mol. wt. = 479.02 g/mol.)
- CAS = 12224-98-5
- Density = 1.26 g/ml
- Refractive Index = 1.87 at 532 nm
- Good photostability
Resources and Citations
- R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
- Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
- The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 8349
- Colour Index International online at www.colour-index.org
- CHSOS: NIR Reflectance spectrum of Rhodamine 6G
- Wikipedia: Rhodamine 6G Accessed Feb 2026