Pigment

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/pigment

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the physical state?Solid, insoluble particles dispersed in a medium
2. What is the color mechanism?Selective absorption and scattering of light wavelengths due to molecular structure
3. What are pigments and how do they give color?Pigments are tiny solid particles that stay separate inside paint, plastic, or ink. They give color by absorbing some light and reflecting the rest back to our eyes. The shape and size of the particles also affect how bright or shiny the color looks.
4. How are pigments different from dyes?Dyes dissolve and bond chemically to the material, while pigments stay as separate particles. Pigments are mixed into a binder or ink but don’t chemically attach to the surface, so they stay on the surface even when the material is washed.

Chromophore: A part of a molecule responsible for its color by absorbing specific wavelengths of light.
Electromagnetic Spectrum: The range of all types of light, including visible light, radio waves, and X-rays.
Substrate: The surface or material to which a pigment is applied.