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Kasten and Burton’s Schiff Reagent

Kasten and Burton’s Formulation

Solution

MaterialAmount
Pararosanilin50mg
Distilled water300mL
Sodium thiosulfate6g

Preparation

  1. Dissolve the dye in distilled water.
  2. Add the sodium thiosulfate.
  3. The solution should decolorize immediately. Optionally, the solution may be boiled for one minute. The solution may be used immediately.

Notes

  • The formula given in Humason specifies sodium hyposulfite. This is an older and obsolete name for sodium thiosulfate.
  • The solution should be colorless or very pale amber. Brown solutions will often stain poorly. Usually these have been made from a batch of basic fuchsin containing too little pararosanilin.

Safety Note

Prior to handling any chemical, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for proper handling and safety precautions.

References

  1. Humason, G. L., (1967)
    Animal tissue techniques, Ed. 2
    W. H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, Ca, USA