Crystal violet

Athanor · official

C₂₅H₃₀ClN₃ · 408 g/mol

IUPAC name: [4-[bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]methylidene]cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylidene]-dimethylazanium chloride

Also called gentian violet, methyl violet 10B, Gram stain, basic violet 3

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Drawn from its SMILES with RDKit

DangerHarmful if swallowed · Causes serious eye damage · Suspected of causing cancer · Very toxic to aquatic life · Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Names and identifiers

IUPAC name: [4-[bis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]methylidene]cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylidene]-dimethylazanium chloride
Synonyms: gentian violet, methyl violet 10B, Gram stain
+ 38 more
basic violet 3, methylrosanilinium chloride, Aniline Violet, Hexamethyl Violet, Methyl Violet 10B, Gentiaverm, Methylrosaniline chloride, Pyoktanin, Adergon, Atmonil, Avermin, Axuris, Vianin, Viocid, Badil, Bismuth Violet, Hexamethylpararosaniline chloride, Basic Violet BN, Gentersal, Genticid, Gentioletten, Oxycolor, Vermicid, Genapax, Oxiuran, Oxyozyl, Calcozine Violet C, Meroxyl-Wander, Meroxylan-Wander, Brilliant Violet 5B, Hecto Violet R, Violet CP, Crystal Violet O, Calcozine Violet 6BN, Paper Blue R, Violet XXIII, Gentianaviolett, Crystal Violet AO
Molecular formula: C₂₅H₃₀ClN₃
Empirical formula: C₂₅H₃₀ClN₃
Molecular weight: 408 g/mol
Exact mass: 407.21283
CAS number: 548-62-9
PubChem CID: 11057
Canonical SMILES: CN(C)C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(=C2C=CC(=[N+](C)C)C=C2)C3=CC=C(C=C3)N(C)C.[Cl-]
Isomeric SMILES: CN(C)C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(=C2C=CC(=[N+](C)C)C=C2)C3=CC=C(C=C3)N(C)C.[Cl-]
InChI: InChI=1S/C25H30N3.ClH/c1-26(2)22-13-7-19(8-14-22)25(20-9-15-23(16-10-20)27(3)4)21-11-17-24(18-12-21)28(5)6;/h7-18H,1-6H3;1H/q+1;/p-1
InChIKey: ZXJXZNDDNMQXFV-UHFFFAOYSA-M
Molfile

Names, InChI and the identifiers from PubChem, retrieved 2026-10-14.

Physical properties

TemperaturePressureDensity

Appearance: Bright blue-violet crystals[2]
2 values
From Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), the most authoritative source here.
Value As written Source
– Hexamethyl-p-rosaniline chloride is a green to dark green powder. (NTP, 1992) [1] CAMEO Chemicalscites National Toxicology Program, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NTP). 1992. National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
–shown Bright blue-violet crystals [2] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Lewis, R.J. Sr. (ed) Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 11th Edition. Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ. 2004., p. V2: 262
Melting point: 215 °C[3]
2 values
2 of 2 sources agree on it (most common value).
Value As written Source
215 °C 419 °F (Decomposes) (NTP, 1992) [1] CAMEO Chemicalscites National Toxicology Program, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NTP). 1992. National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
215 °Cshown 215 °C [3] PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy
Solubility in water: In water, 4,000 mg/L at 25 °C[2]
4 values
From Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), the most authoritative source here.
Value As written Source
– less than 1 mg/mL at 86 °F (NTP, 1992) [1] CAMEO Chemicalscites National Toxicology Program, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NTP). 1992. National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
– Very soluble in water, chloroform [2] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Lide, D.R., G.W.A. Milne (eds.). Handbook of Data on Organic Compounds. Volume I. 3rd ed. CRC Press, Inc. Boca Raton ,FL. 1994., p. V4: 3349
– In ethylene glycol methyl ether, 30 mg/mL; in ethanol, 30 mg/mL [2] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Green F; The Sigma-Aldrich Handbook of Stains, Dyes and Indicators. Milwaukee, WI: Aldrich Chemical Co., Inc. pp. 239-40 (1990)
–shown In water, 4,000 mg/L at 25 °C [2] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Green F; The Sigma-Aldrich Handbook of Stains, Dyes and Indicators. Milwaukee, WI: Aldrich Chemical Co., Inc. pp. 239-40 (1990)
log P: log Kow = 0.51[2]

Value	As written	Source
–	Hexamethyl-p-rosaniline chloride is a green to dark green powder. (NTP, 1992)	[1] CAMEO Chemicalscites National Toxicology Program, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NTP). 1992. National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
–shown	Bright blue-violet crystals	[2] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Lewis, R.J. Sr. (ed) Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 11th Edition. Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ. 2004., p. V2: 262

Value	As written	Source
215 °C	419 °F (Decomposes) (NTP, 1992)	[1] CAMEO Chemicalscites National Toxicology Program, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NTP). 1992. National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
215 °Cshown	215 °C	[3] PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy

Value	As written	Source
–	less than 1 mg/mL at 86 °F (NTP, 1992)	[1] CAMEO Chemicalscites National Toxicology Program, Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NTP). 1992. National Toxicology Program Chemical Repository Database. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
–	Very soluble in water, chloroform	[2] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Lide, D.R., G.W.A. Milne (eds.). Handbook of Data on Organic Compounds. Volume I. 3rd ed. CRC Press, Inc. Boca Raton ,FL. 1994., p. V4: 3349
–	In ethylene glycol methyl ether, 30 mg/mL; in ethanol, 30 mg/mL	[2] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Green F; The Sigma-Aldrich Handbook of Stains, Dyes and Indicators. Milwaukee, WI: Aldrich Chemical Co., Inc. pp. 239-40 (1990)
–shown	In water, 4,000 mg/L at 25 °C	[2] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Green F; The Sigma-Aldrich Handbook of Stains, Dyes and Indicators. Milwaukee, WI: Aldrich Chemical Co., Inc. pp. 239-40 (1990)

Each value as its source reports it, with the source's number after it (listed under References). Where several sources report a property, the row shows the value most of them agree on, the rule the app uses; open the values to see every one.

Calculated

Heavy atoms: 29
Rings: 3
Aromatic rings: 3
Fraction sp³ carbons (Fsp3): 0.24
H-bond donors: 0
H-bond acceptors: 3
Rotatable bonds: 6 computed here · PubChem 4
TPSA (Å²): 9.7 computed here · PubChem 9.5
Formal charge: 0
Complexity: 542 PubChem
Stereocenters: None
Double-bond geometry: None specified
Point group: C1 of one 3D conformer with its hydrogens, by Athanor’s engine (as in the app)

Elemental analysis

C73.60%
H7.41%
Cl8.69%
N10.30%

Isotope pattern

Each peak is a nominal mass with its abundance-weighted exact mass, as a percentage of the tallest, from IUPAC natural isotope abundances.

Computed from the structure with RDKit 2026.09 when this page was built, beside PubChem's own computed values from its record; where the two differ, both are shown.

Predicted

log P: 1.91 Crippen (Wildman and Crippen 1999)
log S (water solubility): -3.63 ESOL (Delaney 2004), log mol/L
Synthetic accessibility: 2.96 SA score, 1 easy to 10 hard (Ertl and Schuffenhauer 2009)

Drug-likeness: Lipinski’s rule of five

Molecular weight ≤ 500: 407.99
log P ≤ 5 (Crippen): 1.91
H-bond donors ≤ 5: 0
H-bond acceptors ≤ 10: 3

Passes all four rules.

¹³C NMR shifts, predicted

Predictions, not measurements; each names its method. A measured log P, where a source reports one, is under Physical properties.

Safety

Danger

Harmonized EU classification (CLP Annex VI). Source [4].

Corrosive
Harmful or irritant
Health hazard
Environmental hazard

H302Harmful if swallowed
H318Causes serious eye damage
H351Suspected of causing cancer
H400Very toxic to aquatic life
H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Precautionary statements: P203, P264, P264+P265, P270, P273, P280, P301+P317, P305+P354+P338, P317, P318, P330, P391, P405, P501

View all classifications (3)

[4] Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council · DangerH302, H318, H351, H400, H410
[4] Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council · DangerH302, H318, H350, H400, H410
[5] European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) · 541 reports · DangerH302, H318, H350, H351, H400, H410

First aid

Eyes: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. Immediately transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop. Skin: Immediately flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing.[1]

Safety data sheets on the supplier’s page: VladaChem, RR Scientific, ChemShuttle.

Always read the supplier’s safety data sheet before working with it.

Spectra

1H NMRSpectraBase (Varian A-60D)
13C NMRSpectraBase
UVHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
FTIRSpectraBase (Bruker IFS 85 · KBr-Pellet)
ATR-IRSpectraBase
RamanSpectraBase

Experimental spectra held by these sources; each link opens the source's own record.

Literature

Reading PubChem, OpenAlex and GSRS…

Bioactivity

Reading ChEMBL…

References

[1]CAMEO Chemicals · Public domain (NOAA) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[2]Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · Public domain (US NLM) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[3]PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy · Public domain (US DOE) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[4]Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council · EU reuse policy, CC BY 4.0 · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[5]European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) · ECHA legal notice: reuse with acknowledgement · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[6]SpectraBase · Linked only · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
·Calculated values: computed by Athanor with RDKit 2026.09 from the structure.
·Literature on PubChem

Data last updated 2026-10-14.