Merbromin
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| Merbromin | |
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| IUPAC name |
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| CAS number | [] |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C20H8Br2HgNa2O6 |
| Molar mass | 804.75 g/mol |
| Appearance | dark green solid |
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| R-phrases | R26 R27 R28 R33 R50 R53 |
| S-phrases | S13 S28 S36 S45 S60 S61 |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox references |
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Merbromin (marketed as Mercurochrome, Merbromine, Sodium mercurescein, Asceptichrome, Supercrome and Cinfacromin) is a topical antiseptic used for minor cuts and scrapes. Merbromin is an organomercuric disodium salt compound and a fluorescein. It is readily available in most countries but no longer sold in the United States because of its mercury content.
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[edit] Uses
Merbromin's best-known use is as a topical antiseptic. When applied on a wound, the dark red color stains the skin, making the detection of any erythema or inflammation, indicative of infection, more difficult. Merbromin is also used as a biological dye to mark tissue margins, and as a metal dye in industrial dye penetrant inspection to detect metal fractures.
[edit] Mercurochrome and tinctures
Mercurochrome is the trade name of merbromin and (usually) of merbromin tinctures made of merbromin and alcohol or water (usually 2% merbromin to 98% alcohol or water).
Its antiseptic qualities were discovered by Johns Hopkins Hospital doctor Hugh H. Young in 1919. The chemical soon became popular among parents and doctors for everyday antiseptic uses and it was very commonly used for minor injuries in the schoolyard.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed it from the "generally recognized as safe" and into the "untested" classification to effectively halt its distribution in the United States in 1998 over fears of potential mercury poisoning. [1] It is readily available in most other countries.
Common names for the antiseptic in households were "monkey blood" for water solutions, and "tiger blood" for alcohol solutions. This is due to the blood-like reddish stain left behind after use, and the presence or absence of a stinging sensation (monkey or tiger).
[edit] See also
- Thiomersal, also known as Thimerosal or Merthiolate
[edit] References
- ^ "What happened to Mercurochrome?". The Straight Dope. 2004-07-23. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040723.html.
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