How is Verhoeff's solution prepared correctly?

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Multiple Choice

How is Verhoeff's solution prepared correctly?

Verhoeff’s solution relies on an alcoholic hematoxylin that is made active and specific for elastic fibers by adding a ferric chloride mordant/oxidizer and then stabilizing the dye with iodine. The ferric chloride oxidizes and mordants hematoxylin to the form that binds to elastic tissue, and adding iodine afterward helps prevent overoxidation, keeping the stain crisp and giving elastic fibers a strong black color. This sequence—ferric chloride in the alcoholic hematoxylin first, followed by iodine to stabilize the complex—is essential. Using water-based dye, or introducing other reagents like potassium permanganate, would not produce the same Verhoeff result.

Verhoeff’s solution relies on an alcoholic hematoxylin that is made active and specific for elastic fibers by adding a ferric chloride mordant/oxidizer and then stabilizing the dye with iodine. The ferric chloride oxidizes and mordants hematoxylin to the form that binds to elastic tissue, and adding iodine afterward helps prevent overoxidation, keeping the stain crisp and giving elastic fibers a strong black color. This sequence—ferric chloride in the alcoholic hematoxylin first, followed by iodine to stabilize the complex—is essential. Using water-based dye, or introducing other reagents like potassium permanganate, would not produce the same Verhoeff result.

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