One technique for staining bacteria for viewing under the microscope is called the Gram stain. In this technique, alcohol is used as a decolorizer because it degrades the outer membrane found in some bacteria. What chemical component of the cell does alcohol affect?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Alcohol affects the lipid component of the bacterial cell wall, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria, where it disrupts the outer membrane by dissolving its lipids, leading to decolorization in the Gram staining process.

One Technique for Staining Bacteria for Viewing Under the Microscope