CH391L/S12/Pigments: Difference between revisions
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==Concepts and physical basis of pigment== | ==Concepts and physical basis of pigment== | ||
Pigment is the substance showing the color. Specifically, "substance" means a certain kind/kinds of molecule(s); "showing" means selectively absorbing certain wavelength out of the background light. And the color of the pigment we see is the net effect of all others remaining on the background. | Pigment is the substance showing the color. Specifically, "substance" means a certain kind/kinds of molecule(s); "showing" means selectively absorbing certain wavelength out of the background light. And the color of the pigment we see is the net effect of all others remaining on the background. | ||
→"absorbing" | →"absorbing" | ||
Electrons in molecules exist on certain energy levels. They try to exist at the lowest possible energy level as possible as they can. However, they can be boosted to higher level by "absorbing" the energy that fits the level difference. This is exactly what pigment does. They absorb the light that has right amount of energy that fits such energy level difference. The remaining nonabsorbed ones are perceived by us to "see" the color of pigment. | Electrons in molecules exist on certain energy levels. They try to exist at the lowest possible energy level as possible as they can. However, they can be boosted to higher level by "absorbing" the energy that fits the level difference. This is exactly what pigment does. They absorb the light that has right amount of energy that fits such energy level difference. The remaining nonabsorbed ones are perceived by us to "see" the color of pigment. | ||
Revision as of 13:21, 18 March 2012
Concepts and physical basis of pigment
Pigment is the substance showing the color. Specifically, "substance" means a certain kind/kinds of molecule(s); "showing" means selectively absorbing certain wavelength out of the background light. And the color of the pigment we see is the net effect of all others remaining on the background.
→"absorbing"
Electrons in molecules exist on certain energy levels. They try to exist at the lowest possible energy level as possible as they can. However, they can be boosted to higher level by "absorbing" the energy that fits the level difference. This is exactly what pigment does. They absorb the light that has right amount of energy that fits such energy level difference. The remaining nonabsorbed ones are perceived by us to "see" the color of pigment.
