Pigments, Paint and Painting: A practical book for practical menTerry, George
Science
Pigments, Paint and Painting: A practical book for practical men
Terry, George
Paint; Painting, Industrial; Pigments
SCHEELE’S GREEN.--For more than a century has Scheele’s green
been a familiar pigment, but the reputation it enjoyed in its early
days has long since departed, and it is now to be classed among the
inferior green colouring matters. It consists essentially of a basic
arsenite of copper, and contains from 8 to more than 40 per cent. of
arsenic, according to the mode of preparation, of which there are
several, as follows:--
(1) A mixture of 2 parts of commercial carbonate of potash and 1 part
of powdered arsenious acid (white arsenic), are dissolved in 35 parts
of boiling water; the solution is filtered clear, and then added
gradually and while still warm to a filtered solution of 2 parts of
sulphate of copper until no further precipitate goes down. This latter
is collected, washed with warm water on a filter, and slowly dried
without excess of heat.
(2) The preceding formula is modified by making one solution of the
arsenic and the sulphate of copper, and precipitating by adding the
carbonate of potash solution till the colour is fully developed,
agitation being constantly maintained.
(3) Another variation is to mix the arsenic with soda crystals in
boiling water, and to pour the arsenite of soda solution thus formed
into the bluestone solution, the boiling being kept up for a few
minutes.
Scheele’s green has a pale yellowish cast, and mixes well with either
water or oil, but it lacks brightness, durability, and covering power,
in addition to being highly poisonous, and though once much employed in
staining wall papers, is now generally discarded.
SCHWEINFURTH GREEN.--This is an old-fashioned name for emerald
green, which has been described on pp. 121-125.
TERRE VERTE.--Rendered into English, the name _terre verte_
means “green earth.” It is applied to a number of green-coloured earths
found widely distributed in rocks of various ages, but especially in
those of a basaltic or porphyritic character. In commercial quantity it
occurs notably in Cyprus and near Verona in Italy; the latter locality
is so important that the pigment is often known as “Verona earth.”
Notwithstanding minor points of dissimilarity in samples from different
sources, there is a great family likeness among them, sufficient to
indicate that the essential constituent is a silicate of iron and
magnesia. The other ingredients vary with the locality producing the
mineral. The same may be said of the physical characteristics, some
specimens being soft and earthy, while others are hard and glassy.
All possess the peculiar soapy touch of the magnesian earths, and a
clay-like odour. Analysis of a Verona earth gave:--
Per cent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account