Ethidium Bromide

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    1239-45-8

    Molecular formula
    C21H20BrN3

    SMILES
    CC[N+]1=C2C=C(C=CC2=C3C=CC(=CC3=C1C4=CC=CC=C4)N)N.[Br-]

    Safety labels

    Acute Toxic
    Acute Toxic

    Health Hazard
    Health

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Floral 48.34%
    Animal 43.92%
    Fruity 41.45%
    Sweet 35.96%
    Grape 33.44%
    Musk 29.54%
    Neroli 29.15%
    Phenolic 25.84%
    Orange 25.22%
    Fatty 25.15%

     

    Flavor
    Bitter 61.74%
    Animal 23.36%
    Very strong 23.27%
    Indole 22.65%
    Nitrile 20.67%
    Moth ball 20.55%
    Naphthelene 20.48%
    Orange flower 20.0%
    Flat 19.57%
    Rotten 19.32%

     

    Odor impact est.
    Low

  • Properties

    pKa est.
    8.05 (weak base)

    Molecular weight
    394.3 g/mol

    Melting point expt.

    • 260-262 °C (decomposes)
    • 238-240 °C

    Flash point

    • 313.6 ˚C est.
    • >100 °C

    Solubility expt.

    • Solubility in 2-methoxyethanol is 20 mg/mL; ethanol, 2 mg/mL
    • Soluble in 750 parts chloroform at 20 °C
    • Soluble in 20 parts water at 20 °C
    • Solubility in water, g/100ml at 20 °C: 5

  • Synonyms

    • ETHIDIUM BROMIDE
    • Homidium bromide
    • 1239-45-8
    • Dromilac
    • EtBr
    • 3,8-Diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium bromide
    • 3,8-Diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridin-5-ium bromide
    • Ethydium bromide
    • Bromure d'homidium
    • Bromuro de homidio
    • Homidium bromide [INN:BAN]
    • MFCD00011724
    • Homidii bromidum [INN-Latin]
    • CCRIS 1017
    • Phenanthridinium, 3,8-diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenyl-, bromide (1:1)
    • 2,7-Diamino-10-ethyl-9-phenylphenanthridinium bromide
    • 2,7-Diamino-9-phenyl-10-ethylphenanthridinium bromide
    • HSDB 7297
    • Bromure d'homidium [INN-French]
    • Phenanthridinium, 3,8-diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenyl-, bromide
    • Bromuro de homidio [INN-Spanish]
    • EINECS 214-984-6
    • UNII-059NUO2Z1L
    • Ethidium (bromide)
    • 2,7-Diamino-9-phenylphenanthridine ethobromide
    • NSC 268986
    • NSC-268986
    • DTXSID8025258
    • Ethidium bromide(EB)
    • AI3-62997
    • Bromide, Ethidium
    • 5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridin-5-ium-3,8-diamine;bromide
    • HOMIDIUM BROMIDE [MI]
    • HOMIDIUM BROMIDE [INN]
    • MLS002702536
    • 059NUO2Z1L
    • CHEBI:4883
    • DTXCID605258
    • HOMIDIUM BROMIDE [HSDB]
    • HOMIDIUM BROMIDE [MART.]
    • NSC268986
    • NCGC00091387-01
    • NCGC00095070-01
    • Homidii bromidum (INN-Latin)
    • Bromure d'homidium (INN-French)
    • HOMIDIUM BROMIDE (MART.)
    • Bromuro de homidio (INN-Spanish)
    • Homidii bromidum
    • CHEMBL284328
    • Bromide, Homidium
    • C21H20BrN3
    • CAS-1239-45-8
    • RD 1572
    • ethidiumbromide
    • 3,8-Diamino-1-ethyl-6-phenylphenantridinium bromide
    • Ethidium bromide, 98%
    • SCHEMBL20520
    • SPECTRUM1503806
    • Ethidium bromide, >=95.0%
    • SCHEMBL1505620
    • HMS502O22
    • HMS1922I08
    • HMS3868D03
    • Pharmakon1600-01503806
    • Ethidium bromide, ~95% (HPLC)
    • HY-D0021
    • Tox21_111123
    • Tox21_111410
    • Tox21_202511
    • CCG-39365
    • HB9326
    • NSC758630
    • AKOS015904050
    • Tox21_111410_1
    • Ethidium bromide solution, 1% in H2O
    • Ethidium bromide, electrophoresis grade
    • FE10537
    • NSC-758630
    • NCGC00091387-08
    • NCGC00095070-02
    • NCGC00260060-01
    • AS-79030
    • SMR001566146
    • 2,7Diamino9phenylphenanthridine ethobromide
    • DB-062201
    • CS-0009917
    • E0370
    • E1363
    • Ethidium Bromide solution, 10mg/mL in H2O
    • NS00081473
    • 3,8Diamino5ethyl6phenylphenanthridinium bromide
    • F16485
    • 2,7Diamino10ethyl9phenylphenanthridinium bromide
    • 2,7Diamino9phenyl10ethylphenanthridinium bromide
    • Phenanthridinium, 3,8diamino5ethyl6phenyl, bromide
    • SR-01000872761
    • SR-01000872761-1
    • Ethidium bromide, for fluorescence, >=95.0% (HPLC)
    • Phenanthridinium,8-diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenyl-, bromide
    • WLN: T B666 HKJ EJ H2 IR& LZ &E &9/26
    • 3,8-DIAMINO-5-ETHYL-6-PHENYLPHENATHRIDINIUM BROMIDE
    • Ethidium bromide, ~10 mg/tablet ethidium bromide, tablet
    • Ethidium bromide, BioReagent, for molecular biology, powder
    • J Mol Biol 13: 269 (1965); 27: 87 (1967)
    • 2,7-Diamino-10-ethyl-9-phenylphenanthridinium bromide, 1% aqueous solution
    • Ethidium Bromide (0.5mg/mL in Water) (in Dropper Bottle) [for Electrophoresis]
    • 214-984-6

  • Applications

    Ethidium bromide (CAS 1239-45-8) is primarily used as a nucleic-acid stain in molecular biology: staining DNA and RNA to visualize them on gel electrophoresis (agarose or polyacrylamide) and recording results by fluorescence; it is a component of commercial staining solutions used in laboratories for DNA analysis and imaging of samples; it is employed in education and genetic research to visualize DNA in hands-on experiments. Due to its mutagenic and toxic properties, handling and disposal of Ethidium bromide must follow strict safety regulations and waste-management practices, and many facilities are considering safer alternatives where available.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 32.22
    methanol 30.8
    isopropanol 12.49
    water 0.17
    ethyl acetate 39.83
    n-propanol 30.79
    acetone 88.21
    n-butanol 24.1
    acetonitrile 16.98
    DMF 259.16
    toluene 17.94
    isobutanol 18.51
    1,4-dioxane 100.08
    methyl acetate 42.88
    THF 287.05
    2-butanone 63.28
    n-pentanol 25.68
    sec-butanol 11.09
    n-hexane 0.57
    ethylene glycol 17.56
    NMP 215.45
    cyclohexane 1.11
    DMSO 237.34
    n-butyl acetate 42.03
    n-octanol 6.6
    chloroform 108.2
    n-propyl acetate 39.07
    acetic acid 68.91
    dichloromethane 120.35
    cyclohexanone 114.61
    propylene glycol 14.11
    isopropyl acetate 21.17
    DMAc 193.79
    2-ethoxyethanol 76.65
    isopentanol 19.21
    n-heptane 0.86
    ethyl formate 60.07
    1,2-dichloroethane 92.63
    n-hexanol 26.75
    2-methoxyethanol 122.97
    isobutyl acetate 30.1
    tetrachloromethane 11.72
    n-pentyl acetate 30.17
    transcutol 76.07
    n-heptanol 15.62
    ethylbenzene 7.56
    MIBK 21.09
    2-propoxyethanol 96.29
    tert-butanol 11.14
    MTBE 8.46
    2-butoxyethanol 48.72
    propionic acid 43.05
    o-xylene 7.98
    formic acid 34.23
    diethyl ether 17.9
    m-xylene 8.93
    p-xylene 11.68
    chlorobenzene 41.46
    dimethyl carbonate 58.83
    n-octane 0.49
    formamide 66.84
    cyclopentanone 253.24
    2-pentanone 44.41
    anisole 27.71
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 50.33
    gamma-butyrolactone 283.08
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 58.77
    pyridine 143.63
    3-pentanone 35.66
    furfural 212.83
    n-dodecane 0.37
    diethylene glycol 81.34
    diisopropyl ether 3.29
    tert-amyl alcohol 9.89
    acetylacetone 67.39
    n-hexadecane 0.43
    acetophenone 43.65
    methyl propionate 55.25
    isopentyl acetate 34.92
    trichloroethylene 213.23
    n-nonanol 7.47
    cyclohexanol 18.11
    benzyl alcohol 42.47
    2-ethylhexanol 15.55
    isooctanol 12.29
    dipropyl ether 16.09
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 37.6
    ethyl lactate 28.03
    propylene carbonate 104.92
    n-methylformamide 113.07
    2-pentanol 8.74
    n-pentane 0.5
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 44.23
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 53.34
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 25.17
    mesitylene 4.24
    ε-caprolactone 91.84
    p-cymene 6.85
    epichlorohydrin 295.45
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 36.03
    2-aminoethanol 30.74
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 188.66
    sulfolane 282.64
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 0.39
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 82.23
    n-hexyl acetate 22.0
    isooctane 0.25
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 42.83
    sec-butyl acetate 20.15
    tert-butyl acetate 19.25
    decalin 0.9
    glycerin 36.67
    diglyme 93.37
    acrylic acid 57.09
    isopropyl myristate 7.6
    n-butyric acid 55.53
    acetyl acetate 32.34
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 17.11
    ethyl propionate 28.81
    nitromethane 146.15
    1,2-diethoxyethane 30.51
    benzonitrile 41.51
    trioctyl phosphate 12.43
    1-bromopropane 21.47
    gamma-valerolactone 291.37
    n-decanol 5.75
    triethyl phosphate 20.53
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 6.46
    propionitrile 22.54
    vinylene carbonate 103.02
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 199.43
    DMS 35.54
    cumene 6.13
    2-octanol 6.88
    2-hexanone 37.13
    octyl acetate 12.81
    limonene 7.63
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 111.38
    ethyl orthosilicate 18.63
    tributyl phosphate 13.04
    diacetone alcohol 32.51
    N,N-dimethylaniline 18.96
    acrylonitrile 40.23
    aniline 43.61
    1,3-propanediol 39.58
    bromobenzene 33.92
    dibromomethane 54.3
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 143.39
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 29.84
    tetrabutyl urea 16.91
    diisobutyl methanol 5.81
    2-phenylethanol 43.03
    styrene 11.0
    dioctyl adipate 15.79
    dimethyl sulfate 89.84
    ethyl butyrate 28.55
    methyl lactate 43.97
    butyl lactate 27.3
    diethyl carbonate 23.61
    propanediol butyl ether 25.06
    triethyl orthoformate 24.28
    p-tert-butyltoluene 5.56
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 31.39
    morpholine 131.02
    tert-butylamine 4.8
    n-dodecanol 4.33
    dimethoxymethane 148.96
    ethylene carbonate 81.88
    cyrene 51.65
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 54.48
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 29.15
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 51.5
    4-methylpyridine 84.84
    dibutyl ether 6.63
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 5.81
    DEF 69.36
    dimethyl isosorbide 59.75
    tetrachloroethylene 113.89
    eugenol 37.52
    triacetin 29.39
    span 80 23.72
    1,4-butanediol 19.82
    1,1-dichloroethane 35.82
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 22.73
    methyl formate 113.61
    2-methyl-1-butanol 19.25
    n-decane 0.57
    butyronitrile 22.75
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 6.4
    1-chlorooctane 3.78
    1-chlorotetradecane 1.57
    n-nonane 0.44
    undecane 0.45
    tert-butylcyclohexane 0.67
    cyclooctane 0.41
    cyclopentanol 33.36
    tetrahydropyran 68.15
    tert-amyl methyl ether 8.06
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 54.76
    1-hexene 4.03
    2-isopropoxyethanol 44.88
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 39.31
    methyl butyrate 45.39

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction