Answer
Acid-fast bacteria are resistant to most staining techniques, and would not colorize under Gram-staining techniques. Non acid-fast bacteria will stain in two ways: if Gram-positive, it will stain purple; if Gram-negative, it will stain pink.
Work Step by Step
1. Acid-fast bacteria have a high content of mycolic acids in their cell walls.
2. This trait prevents Gram-staining from having any effect.
3. Non acid-fast bacteria will not have the same level of mycolic acid contained in their cell walls that acid-fast bacteria do.
4. Consequently, the typical gram-staining techniques will work.
