identifying bacteria

Can be identified based on:
Cell shape
rod shaped- bacteria called Bacilli or bacillus (singular)
Sphere shaped- bacteria called cocci or coccus (singular)
Spiral shaped- bacteria called spirilla or spirillum (singular)

Cell wall
comparing chemical makeup of the cell wall, different species of bacteria can have different compounds present in their cell walls usually revealed by gram staining. gram staining method consists of using two colors, crystal violet and safranine. bacteria will absorb one or the other dye depending on the type. bacterial cells whose cell contains only one thick layer or carbs and proteins  take up the crystal violet stain also called GRAM-POSITIVE. bacteria that have 2 layers take up safranine and look red these are called GRAM-NEGATIVE bacteria.

Movement– bacteria can also be determined by movement, whether there is one or more flagella. some snake or spiral forward by wriggling others glide over a layer of mucus-like slime that they secrete and some don’t move at all on their own.