Here's a link to the page:
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sial/458848?lang=en®ion=US
Why does it say "dye content 80%"?
Shouldn't it be pure if it's a packaged powder?
Is it 20% other chemical compounds (e.g. stabilizers)?
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http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sial/458848?lang=en®ion=US
Why does it say "dye content 80%"?
Shouldn't it be pure if it's a packaged powder?
Is it 20% other chemical compounds (e.g. stabilizers)?
Many dyes are sold as powders with 80-90 % purity. It is because some dyes are difficult to purify (e.g. they are difficult to crystallize). The remaining 10-20 % are impurities, such as isomers or closely chemically related side-products, but mostly they are "volatile impurities" (i.e. water). For most purposes these impurities do not interfere, so nobody bothers to remove them. Here is MSDS of Allura Red: http://www.vidhifoodcolour.com/uploads/gallery/14067976084allura_red.pdf