Why do white blood cells look purple?

White blood cells appear purple when stained with certain dyes, such as Wright's stain or Giemsa stain, used in laboratory settings for microscopy. These stains bind to different components within the cells, highlighting their structures and nuclei. The purple color results from the combination of the dyes interacting with the proteins and nucleic acids in the cells, making it easier to identify and differentiate various types of white blood cells under a microscope.