What color does crystal violet dye impart to bacteria during gram staining?

Crystal violet dye is the primary stain used in the Gram staining technique, which classifies bacteria into two groups: Gram-positive and Gram-negative. When crystal violet is applied to bacteria, it penetrates the cell walls and cytoplasmic membranes. Gram-positive bacteria, which have a thicker peptidoglycan layer, retain the crystal violet dye after a subsequent washing step, leading to a strong purple coloration. This distinct purple hue is crucial for the identification and classification of bacteria during microbiological analysis. Conversely, Gram-negative bacteria do not retain the crystal violet after the washing step and are typically stained with a secondary dye, such as safranin, which imparts a red color to them. Thus, the color that crystal violet dye imparts during the gram staining process is purple, specifically for Gram-positive bacteria.