The document describes the Gram staining procedure, which is used to classify bacteria as either gram-positive or gram-negative. The procedure was developed by Hans Christian Gram in 1884 and involves staining bacteria samples with crystal violet dye followed by iodine to form a complex within the cell. Gram-positive bacteria retain the stain due to their thicker peptidoglycan layer, while gram-negative bacteria wash out the stain more easily due to their thinner peptidoglycan layer. The document also discusses several modifications of the Gram staining technique.