Synthetic dyes/stains are generally created so that they are one of the following stain types:
- Basic - contains basic groups with an affinity for acidic tissue elements.
- Acidic - contains acidic groups that have an affinity for basic tissue elements.
Basic stains stain nuclei and other basophilic (base-loving) cellular structures in tissues. Acidic stains stain cytoplasm and other acidophilic (acid-loving) cellular structures in tissues. Many biological staining procedures rely on acid-base chemistry.
