500
If you don't add the mordant during the Gram staining process, what color would you expect the culture to be.
pink!
The purpose of the mordant is to trap the crystal violet dye in the peptidoglycan layer of Gram + cells. If it doesn't get trapped, the ethanol will wash it away just like it does in Gram - cells. It will then take up the safranin in the final staining step and appear pink under the microscope.