Colorants

Colorants

Colorants (pronunciation: /ˈkʌlərənt/) are substances that are used to impart color to a material or surface. The term is often used in the context of food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other industries where color is an important aspect of the product.

Etymology

The term "colorant" is derived from the Latin word "colorare", which means "to color". It has been in use in English since the 19th century.

Types of Colorants

There are several types of colorants, including:

• Dyes: These are soluble substances that can color a material by being absorbed into it.
• Pigments: These are insoluble substances that color a material by reflecting light from its surface.
• Lakes: These are a type of colorant that is created by combining a dye with an insoluble substance.
• Inks: These are liquid colorants that are used for printing or writing.

Related Terms

• Dyeing: The process of applying colorants to a material.
• Colorimeter: A device used to measure the color of a substance.
• Chromatography: A method used to separate the different components of a colorant.

Health and Safety

Some colorants can have adverse effects on health if ingested or applied to the skin. Therefore, they are regulated by agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

See Also

• Food coloring
• Tattoo ink
• Paint

This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.