flinnsci.com SAFETY REFERENCE RECIPES FOR SOLUTIONS
719
Recipes for Biological, Histological and
Chemical Solutions
Aceto-Carmine (Schneider)
Place 0.5 g of carmine and 55 mL of DI water in
a 200-mL flask, bring to a boil and add 45 mL of
glacial acetic acid. Plug flask with cotton wool,
boil again, cool and filter. (stain and fixative, good
for protozoa and nuclei)
Aceto-Orcein Staining Solution
Heat 31.5 mL of glacial acetic acid and 13.5 mL
of DI water almost to boiling. When acid is hot,
add 2 g of synthetic orcein and allow to cool.
Dilute by adding 55 mL of DI water; stir and filter.
(connective tissue stain)
Adrenaline Hydrochloride
Dissolve 0.1 g of adrenaline hydrochloride
in 100
mL of Ringer’s solution.
Adipoyl Chloride/Hexane Solution
Dissolve 4.6 g of adipoyl chloride
in approximately
50 mL of hexane, stir, then dilute to 100 mL with
hexane. (nylon demonstration)
Agar (Non-nutrient)
Suspend 15 g of agar in 1 L of DI water. Heat to
a boil and stir until completely dissolved. Let
cool to 50–55 °C and then dispense into desired
containers. Agar will firm as it cools. Must add a
nutrient if using for culture growth.
Agarose Gel
The standard concentration of agarose in the gel
is 0.8%—a concentration that offers a compromise
between band resolution and running time. The
following directions are for 100 mL of an 0.8%
agarose solution. Stir 0.8 g of agarose into 100 mL
of working strength (1X) electrophoresis buffer
(TBE or TAE) in a glass Erlenmeyer flask. Stopper
with nonabsorbent cotton or foam plug. Dissolve
agarose by heating in a microwave (30–40
seconds, stir, repeat) or on a hot plate. Heat until
solution is clear and agarose appears to be fully
dissolved. Stir frequently and do not allow solution
to boil for more than a few seconds. Prepare the
casting tray, place the well comb and pour the
gel(s) when the agarose solution has cooled to
approximately 60 °C. Allow the gel to fully solidify
on a flat, level surface for 20–30 minutes. Gel
should be opaque and firm to the touch.
See pages 71–72 for a complete
listing of culture media.
Alizarin
0.1% methanol solution: Dissolve 0.1 g of alizarin in
50 mL of methyl alcohol, then dilute to 100 mL with
methyl alcohol. (pH indicator)
Alizarin Red S
1% aqueous: Dissolve 1 g of alizarin red S in 50 mL
of DI water, then dilute to 100 mL. (pH indicator)
Alizarin Yellow R
0.1% aqueous: Dissolve 0.1 g of alizarin yellow R
in 50 mL of DI water, then dilute to 100 mL. (pH
indicator)
Aluminon
Dissolve 0.1 g of aurin tricarboxylic acid in 100 mL
of DI water. (qualitative reagent for aluminum)
Amylase
0.5% aqueous: Dissolve 0.5 g of amylase in 50 mL
of DI water, then dilute to 100 mL. Prepare fresh.
(starch digestion)
Aniline Blue Alcohol Stain
1% alcohol: Dissolve 1 g of aniline blue in 100 mL
85% ethyl alcohol. (stain for cellulose)
Aniline Blue Aqueous Stain
0.5% aqueous: Dissolve 0.5 g aniline blue in 50 mL
DI water, then dilute to 100 mL. Filter if necessary.
(stain for algae and fungi)
Aniline Blue Indicator
0.1% aqueous: Dissolve 0.1 g aniline blue in 50 mL
DI water, then dilute to 100 mL. (pH indicator)
Baker’s Softening Fluid
Mix 10 mL of glycerol, 54 mL of 95% ethanol and 35
mL DI water. (softening of animal structures)
Become a Label Fanatic!
• Do not use chemicals from unlabeled containers.
• Do not place labels on top of one another.
• Label chemicals clearly and permanently.
An unlabeled container will become tomorrow’s “Mystery Substance.” A grease
pencil or label can help eliminate a future problem and a lot of expense.
You Make It—You Label It!
Minimum label requirements:
1. Identity of contents
2. Concentration
3. Your name
Note: DI water denotes either distilled or deionized water.
4
4. Date of preparation (if applicable)
5. Hazard alert (if applicable)
Barfoed’s Reagent
Add 10 mL of glacial acetic acid to 1 L of DI water
and stir. Add 66.5 g of cupric acetate monohydrate.
Heat and stir until solid is completely dissolved.
(test for glucose)
Benedict’s Qualitative Solution
Dissolve 173 g of sodium citrate dihydrate and
100 g sodium carbonate anhydrous in 800 mL DI
water. Warm and stir to aid dissolution. Filter if
necessary. In a separate container, dissolve 17.3 g
copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate in 100 mL DI water.
Slowly, while stirring constantly, add the copper
sulfate solution to the first solution. Let cool and
dilute to 1 L with DI water. (test for the presence of
simple sugars)
Benedict’s Quantitative Solution
Dissolve 18.0 g of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate
in 100 mL of DI water and set aside. Dissolve 100.0
g of sodium carbonate anhydrous, 200.0 g of
sodium citrate dihydrate and 125 g of potassium
thiocyanate in 800 mL DI water. Heat, if necessary,
to aid dissolution of the solids. Allow the solution
to cool, then transfer to a 1-L volumetric flask.
Slowly, while stirring constantly, add the copper
sulfate solution to the 1-L flask. Prepare a 0.1 M
potassium ferrocyanide solution by dissolving 0.25
g of potassium ferrocyanide trihydrate in 5 mL of
DI water. Add to the 1-L volumetric flask, stir, then
dilute to 1 L with DI water. Filter if necessary. 25 mL
of this solution is reduced by 50 mg of glucose.
Bial’s Reagent (Sumner)
Add 4 drops of 10% iron(III) chloride solution to 100
mL of 6 M hydrochloric acid. Add 0.03 g of orcinol
and stir. (test for pentoses and glycuronic acids)
RECIPES continued on next page.
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