Haematoxylin aluminium solutions

Haematoxylin is a dye acquired from the heartwood of logwood used as a stain in microscopy and in the accomplish of ink.

The three capital alum haematoxylin solutions alive are Ehrlich's haematoxylin, Harris's haematoxylin, and Mayer's haematoxylin. The name haemalum is bigger to "haematoxylin" for these solutions because haematein, a artefact of blaze of haematoxylin, is the admixture that combines with aluminium ions to anatomy the alive dye-metal complex. Alum haematoxylin solutions admit to the nuclei of beef a ablaze cellophane red stain that rapidly turns dejected on acknowledgment to any aloof or acrid liquid.

Alum or potassium aluminium sulfate used as the acid usually dissociates in an acrid solution, accumulation with HO− of baptize to anatomy baffling aluminium hydroxide. In the attendance of balance acid, aluminium hydroxide cannot be formed, appropriately causing abortion of aluminium haematoxylin dye-lake to form, due to abridgement of OH− ions. Hence, acid solutions of alum haematoxylin become red. During staining, alum haematoxylin-stained sections are usually anesthetized on to a aloof or acrid band-aid (e.g., harder tap baptize or 1% ammonium hydroxide) in adjustment to abrogate the acid and anatomy an baffling dejected aluminium haematin complex. This action is accepted as blueing.