List of inorganic pigments

The following list includes commercially or artistically important inorganic pigments of natural and synthetic origin. The only dyes listed are derived directly from inorganic pigments.

Purple pigments

Aluminum pigments

• Ultramarine violet: (PV15) Silicate of sodium and aluminum containing sulfur.

Copper pigments:

• Han Purple: BaCuSi₂O₆.

Cobalt pigments:

• Cobalt Violet: (PV14) cobaltous orthophosphate.

Manganese pigments:

• Manganese violet: NH₄MnP₂O₇ (PV16) Manganic ammonium pyrophosphate

Blue pigments

Aluminum pigments:

• Ultramarine (PB29): a complex naturally occurring pigment of sulfur-containing sodio-silicate (Na_8-10Al₆Si₆O₂₄S_2-4)

Cobalt pigments:

• Cobalt Blue (PB28) and Cerulean Blue (PB35): cobalt(II) stannate

Copper pigments:

• Egyptian Blue: a synthetic pigment of calcium copper silicate (CaCuSi₄O₁₀). Thought to be the first synthetically produced pigment.
• Han Blue: BaCuSi₄O₁₀

Iron pigments:

• Prussian Blue (PB27): a synthetic pigment of ferric hexacyanoferrate (Fe₇(CN)₁₈). The dye Marking blue is made by mixing Prussian Blue and alcohol.

Manganese pigments:

• Manganese Oxide Blue: a synthetic pigment discovered by Dr. Mas Subramanian's lab at Oregon State University (YIn_1-xMn_xO₃).

Green pigments

Cadmium pigments:

• Cadmium Green: a light green pigment consisting of a mixture of Cadmium Yellow (CdS) and Viridian (Cr₂O₃)

Chromium pigments:

• Chrome green (PG17): chromic oxide (Cr₂O₃)
• Viridian (PG18): a dark green pigment of hydrated chromic oxide (Cr₂O₃•H₂O)

Copper pigments:

• Azurite: cupric carbonate hydroxide (Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂)
• Malachite: cupric carbonate hydroxide (Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂)
• Paris Green: cupric acetoarsenite (Cu(C₂H₃O₂)₂·3Cu(AsO₂)₂)
• Scheele’s Green (also called Schloss Green): cupric arsenite (CuHAsO₃)
• Verdigris: various poorly soluble copper salts, notably cupric acetate (Cu(CH₃CO₂)₂) and malachite (Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂)

Yellow pigments

Arsenic pigments:

• Orpiment natural monoclinic arsenic sulfide (As₂S₃),

Cadmium pigments:

• Cadmium Yellow (PY37): cadmium sulfide (CdS)

Chromium pigments:

• Chrome Yellow (PY34): natural pigment of plumbous chromate (PbCrO₄).

Cobalt pigments:

• Aureolin(also called Cobalt Yellow) (PY40): Potassium cobaltinitrite (Na₃Co(NO₂)₆).

Iron Pigments:

• Yellow Ochre (PY43): a naturally occurring clay of monohydrated ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃.H₂O)

Lead pigments:

• Naples Yellow (PY41); lead-tin-yellow

Titanium pigments:

• Titanium Yellow (PY53)

Tin Pigments:

• Mosaic gold: stannic sulfide (SnS₂)

Orange pigments

Cadmium pigments:

• Cadmium Orange (PO20): an intermediate between cadmium red and cadmium yellow: cadmium sulfoselenide.

Chromium pigments:

• Chrome Orange: a naturally occurring pigment mixture composed of lead(II) chromate and lead(II) oxide. (PbCrO₄ + PbO)

Red pigments

Cadmium pigments:

• Cadmium Red (PR108): cadmium selenide (CdSe)

Iron oxide pigments:

• Sanguine, Caput Mortuum, Venetian Red, Oxide Red (PR102)
• Red Ochre (PR102): anhydrous Fe₂O₃
• Burnt Sienna (PBr7): a pigment produced by heating Raw Sienna.

Lead pigments:

• Red Lead: lead tetroxide, Pb₃O₄

Mercury pigments:

• Vermilion (PR106): Synthetic and natural pigment: Occurs naturally in mineral cinnabar. Mercuric sulfide (HgS)

Brown pigments

Clay earth pigments (naturally formed iron oxides)

• Raw Umber (PBr7): a natural clay pigment consisting of iron oxide, manganese oxide and aluminum oxide: Fe₂O₃ + MnO₂ + nH₂O + Si + AlO₃. When calcined (heated) it is referred to as Burnt Umber and has more intense colors.
• Raw Sienna (PBr7): a naturally occurring yellow-brown pigment from limonite clay. Used in art since prehistoric times.

Black pigments

Carbon pigments:

• Carbon Black (PBk7)
• Ivory Black (PBk9)
• Vine Black (PBk8)
• Lamp Black (PBk6)

Iron Pigments:

• Iron black (PBk11) (C.I. No.77499) : Fe₃O₄

Titanium pigments:

• Titanium Black () : Titanium(III) oxide (Ti₂O₃)

White pigments

Antimony pigments:

• Antimony White: Stibous Oxide (Sb₂O₃)

Barium pigments:

• Barium sulfate (PW5) : (BaSO₂)

Lead pigments:

• Cremnitz White (PW1): basic Plumbous Carbonate ((PbCO₃)₂·Pb(OH)₂)

Titanium pigments:

• Titanium White (PW6): Titanic Oxide (TiO₂)

Zinc pigments:

• Zinc White (PW4): Zinc Oxide (ZnO)

Safety

A number of pigments, especially traditional ones, contain heavy metals that are highly toxic. These pigments, including those derived from lead, mercury, have often been banned.

See also

• List of dyes