Why is methylene blue necessary
Methylene blue is a chemical compound that is characterized as being heterocyclic and aromatic. It is considered a necessity because of its various uses especially in the fields of chemistry and biology.
Methylene blue is proven useful and handy among scientists mostly because of its color. It helps biologists to see microorganisms under the microscope by staining the microscopic life with its bright blue tint. Adding a drop or two of methylene blue on the glass slide with bacteria on it (which is normally colorless) is enough to aid biologists to see the variety of shapes of the bacteria through the microscope.
Methylene blue is also an oxygen indicator. Through its color, it can signify the presence or absence of oxygen. When methylene blue is mixed with water it will normally turn out blue because of the presence of oxygen. But if the oxygen is removed from the mixture, the liquid will turn out clear. This can be achieved by thoroughly shaking the solution to mix the oxygen that is in the air and into the water.
In the past, methylene blue is even incorporated in the samples of pasteurized milk to determine whether the sample is free from bacteria or not. If the blue tint on the sampled milk slowly disappeared, it is most likely because of the presence of bacteria in the milk that consumes the oxygen thus leading to the assumption that the milk was not properly pasteurized. However if the milk remained blue during the testing period, the bacteria is already removed.
Methylene blue is also necessary in the field of medicine that includes utilizing it as a placebo and as treatment to numerous health conditions like malaria, methemoglobinemia, and cancer to name a few. It is also used as an antidote to cases of poisoning like potassium cyanide and carbon monoxide. And when merged with light, it is used to treat plaque psoriasis, Kaposi’s sarcoma, West Nile virus, hepatitis C, and much more.