Nile blue
IUPAC name	Nile blue
Other names	Nile blue A
Identifiers
CAS number	3625-57-8
PubChem	16938
SMILES	CCN(CC)C1=CC2=C(C=C1)N=C3C4= CC=CC=C4C(=[NH2+])C=C3O2.[Cl-]
Properties
Molecular formula	C20H20ClN3O
Molar mass	353.845 g/mol
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Nile blue (or Nile blue A) is a stain used in biology and histology. It may be used with live or fixed cells, and imparts a blue colour to cell nuclei.

It may also be used in conjunction with fluorescence microscopy to stain for the presence of polyhydroxybutyrate granules in prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. Boiling a solution of Nile blue with sulfuric acid produces Nile red (Nile blue oxazone).

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