This book provides an up-to-date insight into the chemistry behind the colour of the dyes and pigments that make our world so colourful. The impressive breadth of coverage starts with a dip into the history of colour science. Colour Chemistry then goes on to look at the structure and synthesis of the various dyes and pigments, along with their applications in the traditional areas of textiles, coatings and plastics, and also the ever-expanding range of "high-tech" applications. Also discussed are some of the environmental issues associated with the manufacture and use of colour. The broad and balanced coverage presented in this book makes it ideal for students and graduates. In addition, many specialists in industry or academia will also benefit from the overview of the subject that is provided.

In the ten years since publication of the second edition of Heinrich Zollinger's "Color Chemistry", significant trends in colorant research and application have become important. Particular emphasis is given to the discussion of the synthesis, properties, and application of pigments.

Students embarking upon a colour chemistry course usually approach it by way of a general introduction and proceed to more detailed treatment of the subject when they have acquired some knowledge of its character and scope. This book has been written with the twofold purpose of serving as a guide to such students during the introductory part of their course and of supplying the needs in this field of others whose main interest is in a related branch of technology or pure chemistry. An attempt has been made to present the main features of the subject in an easily assimilable form. The great amount of published information renders the choice of material for a short book somewhat difficult, and I am keenly conscious of topics that might be thought worthy of more extensive treatment. However, a concise account cannot be comprehensive, and suggestions for further reading are provided at the end of the book. The chemistry of colouring matters can be regarded as a branch of pure chemistry, but the development of knowledge in this field has followed a course determined chiefly by the applications of dyes and pigments. It has therefore appeared appropriate to treat the subject here as a branch of technology.

In this brief, Mary Virginia Orna details the history of color from the chemical point of view. Beginning with the first recorded uses of color and ending in the development of our modern chemical industry, this rich, yet concise exposition shows us how color pervades every aspect of our lives. Our consciousness, our perceptions, our useful appliances and tools, our playthings, our entertainment, our health, and our diagnostic apparatus – all involve color and are based in no small part on chemistry.

An updated and revised second edition of the acclaimed classic Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue, or a ruby red? This classic volume studies the physical and chemical origins of color by exploring fifteen separate causes of color and their varied and often subtle occurrences in biology, geology, mineralogy, the atmosphere, technology, and the visual arts. It covers all of the fundamental concepts at work and requires no specialized knowledge. Author Kurt Nassau includes hundreds of illustrations, tables, and photographs-as well as end-of-chapter problems-that aid in visualizing the concepts discussed. An updated bibliography permits readers to pursue their own particular interests and an expanded series of appendices cover advanced topics. The Physics and Chemistry of Color, Second Edition is a one-of-a-kind treatment of color that provides both detailed physical and chemical properties of color and a more general overview of the subject. It will prove highly useful to specialists and non-specialists alike-and fascinate those with varied interests from optics to art history.

The foundations of the chemical dyestuffs industry were laid in 1856 when W. H. Perkin discovered the dye Mauveine. At approximately the same time modern chemistry was establishing itself as a major science. Thus, the chemistry of dyes became that branch of organic chemistry in which the early scientific theories were first used. This early eminence has now been largely lost. In fact, many of our academic and teaching institutions pay little attention to this vitally important branch of organic chemistry. We believe that this book will help to rectify this unfortunate situation. The majority of books that have been published on the subject of dyes have been technologically biased and, in our opinion, do not appeal to the mainstream organic chemist. We have, therefore, aimed at producing a book which emphasises the role of organic chemistry in dyestuffs and we have included appropriate modern theories, especially the modern molecular orbital approaches. We have assumed that the reader possesses a knowledge of the basic principles of organic chemistry;* the only other requirement is a general interest in organic chemistry.** The book should interest the newcomer to chemistry, the established academic, and the dyestuffs chemist himself.

At the beginning of this series of volumes on Color Chemistry, the editors pointed to a number of events that have served as stimuli for techno logical advances in the field, thus preventing dyestuff manufacturing from becoming what might otherwise be viewed by now as a 'sunset industry'. The volumes which followed have provided ample evidence for our belief that the field of colour chemistry is very much alive, though arguably in need of further stimulus. For instance, a viable approach to the design of new chromophores and to the design of metal-free acid, direct, and reactive dyes having fastness properties comparable to their metallized counterparts represent the kind of breakthroughs that would help ensure the continued success of this important field. While it must be acknowledged that serendipity 'smiled' on our discipline at its inception and has repeated the favor from time to time since then, few would argue against the proposition that most of the significant advances in the technology associated with any scientific discipline result from research designed to enhance our understanding of the fundamental causes for experimental observations, many of which are pursued because they are unexpected, intriguing and intellectually stimulating. Little reflection is required for one who knows the history of the dyestuff industry to realize that this is certainly true in the colour chemistry arena, as it was basic research that led to fiber-reactive dyes, dyes for high technology, and modern synthetic organic pigments.