Which stain is most commonly used to color and visualize a typical prokaryotic (bacterial) cell under a light microscope?

• A. Eosin
• B. Methylene blue
• C. Crystal violet
• D. Safranin

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that staining is used in microbiology to increase the contrast of bacterial cells under a light microscope, making them easier to see.
2. Recognize that different stains have different affinities for cellular components; some stains are primary stains, while others are counterstains.
3. Recall that the most common stain used to color and visualize typical prokaryotic cells is a basic dye that binds well to the negatively charged bacterial cell wall.
4. Identify that Crystal violet is a primary stain used in the Gram staining procedure and is widely used to color bacterial cells because it penetrates and binds effectively to the cell wall.
5. Note that while Methylene blue and Safranin are also used in microbiology, Crystal violet is the most commonly used stain for general visualization of bacterial cells under a light microscope.