Iodine is the decolorizer in the Gram stain.04.13 Summarize how gram-positive and gram-negative cells differ in their reactions.

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Iodine is not the decolorizer in the Gram stain; it is the mordant. The decolorizer is usually alcohol or acetone, which differentiates gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria by removing the crystal violet-iodine complex from gram-negative cells, making them colorless until counterstained. Gram-positive cells retain the complex and remain purple.

Iodine Is the Decolorizer in the Gram Stain