The Chemistry of Art > 1. Pigments in Painting > Analysing The Relationship >
Analysing the relationship between the chemical composition of selected pigments and the position of the metallic component(s) of each pigment in the Periodic Table
- Most pigments contain a metal as to which a color or color range is often associated
- Iron = red – yellow
- Chromium = red – yellow
- Copper = blue – green
- Cobalt = yellow – violet (depending on co-metals)
- Most metals involved in pigments are transition metals
- Color is exhibited by the d-block portion of periodic table with partly filled d subshell
- Color occurs by the absorption of photons of light and reflection of only certain wavelengths