Merbromin

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Merbromin

Systematic name	dibromohydroxymercurifluorescein
Chemical formula	C₂₀H₈Br₂Hg Na₂O₆
Molecular mass	804.75 g/mol
Density	x.xxx g/cm³
Melting point	xx.x °C
Boiling point	xx.x °C
CAS number	[129-16-8]
EINECS number	204-933-6
SMILES	xxxxx
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.

An example of Mercurochrome

[edit] 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 inflamation, 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. Due to its similar healing properties, and current FDA approval, Gentian violet is usable in similar situations as Merbromin was.

[edit] 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, where children nicknamed the tincture 'Monkey Blood'. 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.