Gram staining is a different staining method that is used to differentiate between gram positive from

gram negative. Crystal violet (primary stain) penetrates the cell envelope. of both gram-positive and
gram-negative bacteria. CV+ interacts with negatively-charged parts of bacteria, staining it purple. Then,
the Iodine (-) or the mordant is added to smear. Crystal violet (+) and Iodine (-) binds with each other
and form CV-I complex following the law of attraction. Then, Alcohol (decolorizer) is added and will
result to the dehydration of the wall of gram-positive bacteria. After decolorization, the gram positive
cell remains purple in color, while gram-negative cell loses purple and is only revealed when
thecounterstain, positively charged dye safranin, is added.