This lesson explores the identification of iodine-containing pigments in modern art, such as erythrosin, using XRF spectroscopy.
Objectives
- Understand the significance of iodine in modern art pigments.
- Learn to identify erythrosine (PR172) through its characteristic iodine X-ray emission lines.
Materials
- Erythrosine (PR172) pigment sample in Pigments Checker – Modern Art.
- Potassium iodide
Lesson Plan
- Discuss the role of iodine in achieving specific colors in modern organic pigments.
- Introduce Erythrosine as a common iodine-containing pigment used in food, cosmetics, and art.
- Analyze the Erythrosine pigment using XRF spectroscopy.
- Identify the characteristic iodine K-alpha line in the Erythrosine spectrum. Compare the Erythrosine spectrum to the potassium iodide reference standard.
