Book excerpt: A COMPLETE, UP-TO-DATE RESOURCE OF INFORMATION ON MORE THAN 200 DYES AND STAINS Handbook of Biological Dyes and Stains is the most comprehensive volume available on the subject, covering all the available dyes and stains known to date in the literature for use in biology and medicine. Top dye expert Dr. Ram Sabnis organizes the compounds alphabetically by the most commonly used chemical name. He presents an easy-to-use reference complete with novel ideas for breakthrough research in medical, biological, chemical, and related fields. This is the first book to give the CAS registry number, chemical structure, Chemical Abstracts index name, all other chemical names, Merck Index number, chemical/dye class, molecular formula, molecular weight, physical form, solubility, melting point, boiling point, pH range, color change at pH, pKa, absorption, and emission maxima of dyes and stains, as well as to provide access to synthesis procedures (lab scale and industrial scale) of dyes and stains. This user-friendly handbook also features references on safety, toxicity, and adverse effects of dyes and stains on humans, animals, and the environment, including: acute/chronic toxicity aquatic toxicity carcinogenicity cytotoxicity ecotoxicity genotoxicity hepatotoxicity marine toxicity mutagenicity nephrotoxicity neurotoxicity oral toxicity phototoxicity phytotoxicity The use of biological dyes and stains has extremely high potential in today's business environment. This makes Handbook of Biological Dyes and Stains a convenient, must-have reference. Its staining, biological, and industrial applications make it a vital resource for industrial and academic researchers; the book also serves as a valuable desktop reference for medical professionals, biologists, chemists, chemical/optical engineers, physicists, materials scientists, intellectual property professionals, students, and professors.