I am trying to dissolve EtBr powder in water at a concentration of 2mg/mL and I still have some residue left even after mixing well. Any suggestions on how to dissolve it completely?
Hi Vaideesh,
To completely dissolve EtBr you must stir the solution for several hours in a dark bottle, cause it's light sensitive. Anyway, I would suggest you the use of alternative dyes, as GelRed or RedSafe.
All the best
EtBr powder in never 100% soluble/pure irrespective of from which supplier you purchase it.
Stir the powder in water using a magnetic bar/stirrer in a brown bottle with cap (to prevent spills and contamination) at desired concentration (at or below 10mg/ml) for at least 30 min, filter the solution through an ordinary filter paper and keep the solution in a dark bottle.
[By the way, dangers of EtBr (a very inexpensive and effective agent) compared with its alternatives may be greatly exaggerated (by the those who stand to profit from hysteria and the rest who are too lazy to do their home-work.]
It should dissolve in water. Try heating a little bit while stirring in dark bottle.
Its solubility in water is not questionable but it may take a few hours stirring to mix completely, slite heat while stirring in a dark container would help make it up.
Prepare 800 mL of distilled water in a suitable container.
Add 10 g of Ethidium bromide to the solution.
Add distilled water until the volume is 1.
Stir on a magnetic stirrer for several hours to ensure that the dye has dissolved
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