Question

In a gram stain, what are bacteria called when they are easily decolorized?

a) Gram-positive
b) Gram-negative
c) Acid-fast
d) Endospore-forming

Answer 1

In the Gram stain procedure, bacteria that are easily decolorized are referred to as Gram-negative due to their cell wall structure with a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a Gram stain, bacteria that are easily decolorized are called Gram-negative bacteria. During the staining process, Gram-negative bacteria do not retain the crystal violet stain because of their unique cell wall structure.

Unlike Gram-positive bacteria, which have thick peptidoglycan layers in their cell walls, Gram-negative bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer surrounded by an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and lipoproteins. This outer membrane contributes to their characteristic response during Gram staining, which results in the pink or red color after the counterstain is applied.