SYNONYMS FOOD GREEN S* C. I. FOOD GREEN 4 * BRILLIANT GREEN BS
DEFINITION Food Green S consists essentially of sodium N-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl (2-hydroxy-3,6-disulfo-1-naphthalenyl) methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene-N-methylmethanaminium and subsidary colouring metters together with sodium chloride and/or sodium sulfate as the principal uncoloured compounds. 
Food Green S is described as the sodium salt. The calcium and the potassium salt are also permitted.
CLASS Triarylmethane
COLOUR INDEX NO. 44090
EEC NUMBER E-142
EINECS 221-409-2
CHEMICAL NAMES Sodium N-[4-[[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl] (2-hydroxy-3,6-disulfo-1-naphthalenyl) -methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene-N-methylmethanaminium;
Sodium 5-[4-dimethylamino- alpha -(4-dimethyliminocyclohexa-2,5-
dienylidene)benzyl]-6-hydroxy-7-sulfonato-naphthalene-2-sulfonate (alternative chemical name)
CHEMICAL FORMULA C27H25N2NaO7S2
MOLECULAR WEIGHT 576.63 
ASSAY Content not less than 80% total colouring matters, calculated as the sodium salt 
E 1% 1cm 1 720 at ca 632 nm in aqueous solution
DESCRIPTION  Dark-blue or Dark Green powder
IDENTIFICATION   
a. Spectrometry  Maximum in water at ca 632 nm 
b. Blue or Green solution in water 
PURITY Not more than 0.2%
Water Insoluble matter
Subsidiary colouring matters Not more than 1.0% 
Organic compounds other than colouring matters [4,4'-bis(dimethylamino-benzhydryl alcohol] - Not more than 0.1% 
[4,4'-bis(dimethylamino-benzophenone] - Not more than 0.1% 
[3-hydroxynaphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid] - Not more than 0.2%
Unsulfonated primary aromatic amines Not more than 0.01% (Calculated as aniline)
Ether extractable matter Not more than 0.2% under neutral conditions
Arsenic Not more than 3 mg/kg.
Lead Not more than 10 mg/kg.
Mercury Not more than 1 mg/kg.
Cadmium Not more than 1 mg/kg.
Heavy metals  Not more than 40 mg/kg
(as Pb)