Merbromin
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| Merbromin | |
|---|---|
| Image:Mercurochrome.png | |
| Image:Merbromin-3D-vdW.png | |
| IUPAC name | dibromohydroxymercurifluorescein |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| EINECS number | |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C20H8Br2HgNa2O6 |
| Molar mass | 804.75 g/mol |
| Appearance | dark green solid |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Toxic, dangerous for the environment |
| R-phrases | R26 R27 R28 R33 |
| 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 disclaimer and references | |
Merbromin (marketed as Mercurochrome, Merbromine, Sodium mercurescein, Asceptichrome, Supercrome and Cinfacromin) is a topical antiseptic used for minor cuts and scrapes. It is no longer sold in the USA because of its mercury content. Merbromin is an organomercuric disodium salt compound and a fluorescein.
Uses
Merbromin's best-known use is as a topical antiseptic, however it, along with Merthiolate, has been ruled ineffective by the FDA, and is no longer approved. When applied on a wound, the dark red colour stains the skin, making the detection of any erythema or inflammation, indicative of infection, more difficult. Merbromin is also used as a biological dye used to mark tissue margins, and as a metal dye in industrial dye penetrant inspection to detect metal fractures.
Mercurochrome & 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 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 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. It is readily available in most other countries.
External links
Antiseptics and disinfectants (D08) | |
|---|---|
| Acridine derivatives | Ethacridine lactate - Aminoacridine - Euflavine |
| Biguanides and amidines | Dibrompropamidine - Chlorhexidine - Propamidine - Hexamidine - Polihexanide |
| Phenol and derivatives | Hexachlorophene - Policresulen - Phenol - Triclosan - Chloroxylenol - Biphenylol |
| Nitrofuran derivatives | Nitrofurazone |
| Iodine products | Iodine/octylphenoxypolyglycolether - Povidone-iodine - Diiodohydroxypropane |
| Quinoline derivatives | Dequalinium - Chlorquinaldol - Oxyquinoline - Clioquinol |
| Quaternary ammonium compounds | Benzalkonium - Cetrimonium - Cetylpyridinium - Cetrimide - Benzoxonium chloride - Didecyldimethylammonium chloride |
| Mercurial products | Mercuric amidochloride - Phenylmercuric borate - Mercuric chloride - Mercurochrome - Thiomersal - Mercuric iodide |
| Silver compounds | Silver nitrate |
| Others | Hydrogen peroxide - Eosin - Propanol - Tosylchloramide sodium - Isopropanol - Potassium permanganate - Sodium hypochlorite - Ethanol |
de:Antiseptikum#Mercuchrom fr:Mercurochrome it:Mercurocromo hu:Merbromin nl:Merbromine ja:マーキュロクロム液
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
