List of inorganic pigments

The following list includes commercially or artistically important inorganic pigments of natural and synthetic origin.[1]

Purple pigments

Aluminosilicate pigments

Arsenic pigments

  • London purple — an arsenical insecticide/pigment mixture derived from aniline-dye waste.

Copper pigments

Cobalt pigments

Gold pigments

Iron pigments

Manganese pigments

Strontium pigments

Blue pigments

Aluminosilicate pigments

Cobalt pigments

Copper pigments

Iron pigments

Manganese pigments

  • YInMn Blue: a synthetic pigment (YIn1−xMnxO3).[13]
  • Manganese blue: barium manganate(VI) sulfate.

Zirconium pigments

  • Zirconium–vanadium blue zircon ZrSiO4:V.[14]

Green pigments

Arsenic Pigments

  • Scheele's Green: yellowish-green pigment commonly used during the early to mid-19th century (AsCuHO3).
  • Paris Green: It was manufactured in 1814 to be a pigment to make a vibrant green paint.

Cadmium pigments

Chromium pigments

Cobalt pigments

  • Cobalt green: also known as Rinman's green or zinc green (CoZnO2).
  • Cobalt titanate green CoTiO3.[15]

Copper pigments

Other pigments

  • Green earth: also known as terre verte and Verona green (K[(Al,Fe3+),(Fe2+,Mg](AlSi3,Si4)O10(OH)2).

Yellow pigments

Arsenic pigments

Bismuth pigments

Cadmium pigments

Chromium pigments

Cobalt pigments

  • Aureolin or cobalt yellow (PY40): potassium cobaltinitrite (K3Co(NO2)6).

Iron pigments

  • Yellow ochre (PY43): a naturally occurring clay of monohydrated ferric oxide (Fe2O3·H2O).
  • Mars Yellow (PY42) Fe2O3·nH2O.[26]


Lead pigments

Titanium pigments

Tin pigments

Zinc pigments

  • Zinc yellow (PY36): zinc chromate (ZnCrO4), a highly toxic substance with anti-corrosive properties which was historically most often used to paint over metals.

Orange pigments

Arsenic pigments

Bismuth pigments

  • Bismuth Vanadate Orange (PO86) BiVO4.[29]
  • Bismuth Oxyhalide Orange (PO85) BiOCl·Bi2S3.[30]

Cadmium pigments

Vanadium pigments

Red pigments

Arsenic pigments

  • Realgar: As4S4 - a highly toxic natural pigment.

Cadmium pigments

Cerium pigments

Iron oxide pigments

Lead pigments

Mercury pigments

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 + SiO2 + Al2O3. 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

Carbonaceous pigments

Iron pigments

  • Mars black or Iron black (PBk11) (C.I. No.77499) Synthetic magnetite Fe3O4.

Manganese pigments

  • Manganese dioxide (PBk14): blackish or brown in color, used since prehistoric times (MnO2).
  • Iron manganese oxide (PBk33, (Fe,Mn)2O3).

Molybdenum pigments

Titanium pigments

  • Titanium black: Titanium(III) oxide (Ti2O3).
  • Titanium Dioxide Black: (PBk35) (CAS 51745-87-0) Reduced titanium oxide.

Others

  • Iron Titanium Brown Spinel (PBk12).
  • Cobalt Black (PBk13).
  • Zinc Sulfide (PBk17).
  • Slate Black (PBk19).
  • Copper Chromite Black (PBk22, PBk28).
  • Tin Antimony Gray (PBk23).
  • Titanium Vanadium Antimony Gray (PBk24).
  • Cobalt Nickel Gray (PBk25).
  • Manganese Ferrite Black (PBk26) (Fe,Mn)2O4.
  • Iron Cobalt Chromite Black (PBk27).
  • Iron Cobalt Black (PBk29).
  • Chrome Iron Nickel Black (PBk30).
  • Perylene Green (PBk31).
  • Perylene Black (PBk32).

White pigments

Antimony pigment

Barium pigments

Lead pigment

Titanium pigment

Zinc pigments

Fluorescent pigments

Safety

A number of pigments, especially traditional ones, contain heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium that are highly toxic. The use of these pigments is now highly restricted in many countries.[1] For more information, see the article on lead paint.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Völz, Hans G.; et al. "Pigments, Inorganic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a20_243.pub2. ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2..
  2. ^ "Hematite". CAMEO. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  3. ^ de Oliveira, Luiz F. C.; Edwards, Howell G. M.; Frost, Ray L.; Kloprogge, J. Theo; Middleton, Paul S. (2002). "Caput mortuum: spectroscopic and structural studies of an ancient pigment". Analyst. 127 (4): 536–541. Bibcode:2002Ana...127..536D. doi:10.1039/B111473P. PMID 12022655.
  4. ^ "6.02.02 Caput Mortuum (Forbes Pigment Database)". CAMEO. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  5. ^ Müller, Hugo; Müller, Wolfgang; Wehner, Manfred; Liewald, Heike. "Artists' Colors". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a03_143.pub2. ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2.
  6. ^ "Schmincke Horadam "Volcano Violet" — Pigment Information". Utrecht Art Supplies. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  7. ^ "Schmincke Horadam Watercolour: Cobalt Violet Hue (PV62)". Jackson’s Art. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
  8. ^ "Smalt: The Cobalt Glass Pigment".
  9. ^ "PG50 – Cobalt Chromite Blue-Green Spinel".
  10. ^ "PB36 – Cobalt Zinc Aluminate Spinel".
  11. ^ "Azurite: The Blue Copper Carbonate Mineral".
  12. ^ "Vivianite: The Blue Iron Phosphate Mineral".
  13. ^ Smith, Andrew E.; Mizoguchi, Hiroshi; Delaney, Kris; Spaldin, Nicola A.; Sleight, Arthur W.; Subramanian, M. A. (2009). "Mn3+ in Trigonal Bipyramidal Coordination: A New Blue Chromophore". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131 (47): 17084–17086. Bibcode:2009JAChS.13117084S. doi:10.1021/ja9080666. PMID 19899792.
  14. ^ "PB74 – Zirconium Vanadium Blue".
  15. ^ "Cobalt Titanate Green Pigment".
  16. ^ "Verdigris: The Ancient Copper Acetate Pigment".
  17. ^ "Atacamite: The Green Copper Chloride Mineral".
  18. ^ "Brochantite: The Green Copper Sulfate Mineral".
  19. ^ "Green Verditer: Historic Copper Carbonate Pigment".
  20. ^ "Egyptian Green: Ancient Artificial Pigment".
  21. ^ "Pararealgar: The Yellow Arsenic Sulfide Mineral".
  22. ^ "PY227 – Bismuth Molybdate Pigment".
  23. ^ "PY37 – Cadmium Lemon Yellow".
  24. ^ "PY31 – Barium Chromate Pigment".
  25. ^ "PY36 – Zinc Chromate Yellow".
  26. ^ "PY42 – Mars Yellow Iron Oxide".
  27. ^ "Massicot: Lead(II) Oxide Pigment".
  28. ^ "Realgar: Arsenic Sulfide Mineral Pigment".
  29. ^ "PO86 – Bismuth Vanadate Orange Pigment".
  30. ^ "PO85 – Bismuth Oxyhalide Orange Pigment".