• Question: how do you make ink

    Asked by to Andrei, Ekbal, Gemma, Helen, Ruth on 24 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Helen Gath

      Helen Gath answered on 24 Jun 2014:

      Hi RennieC,

      Ink is essentially any liquid or paste which contains pigments. A pigment is a material or molecule which absorbs some wavelength of of light, and allows others to pass through. For example, the petals of a buttercup flower are yellow because they absorb some of the sunlights wavelength, but not all. Those which are reflected back our eyes combine to be seen as yellow.

      Different pigments absorb different wavelengths, and therefore seem a different colour. Some pigments are natural and can be used straight away. This is what our ancestors would have used years ago. Grinding up natural resources such plants, insects, soil types….these can be dissolved into a liquid form which can then be used like a paint. A rough method, but it works. Purple can be found by using the mucus of a certain snail species!

      Today, we have developed many types of synthetic pigments, which are not totally natural, but man made, by a chemical reaction. Apparently combining lead and vinegar makes the lead go white!

      Hope that answers your question 🙂

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