History/Evolution of the Color Wheel

The color wheel, invented by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666, has evolved to become a fundamental
tool in art and design for understanding color relationships. Newton’s initial wheel organized
colors in a circular format to show the spectrum of visible light. Over time, the wheel was
refined by various artists and scientists, incorporating primary, secondary, and tertiary colors,
and introducing concepts like complementary and analogous colors, which help in creating
visually appealing and harmonious designs.

What is Scheele's Green?

Scheele's Green is a bright green pigment invented by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1775. It was
widely used in the 19th century for wallpapers, textiles, and paints. However, it contains arsenic,
making it highly toxic and dangerous, leading to health issues and even death upon prolonged
exposure. Its toxicity eventually led to its decline in use.

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis lazuli is a deep-blue metamorphic rock prized since antiquity for its vivid color.
Historically, it was mined in Afghanistan and used for jewelry, ornaments, and the pigment
ultramarine. Ultramarine was highly valued in art for its vibrant hue, used notably in Renaissance
paintings. The rarity and expense of lapis lazuli made it a symbol of wealth and status.

Yves Klein

Yves Klein was a French artist known for his pioneering use of a single, vivid blue hue,
International Klein Blue (IKB). In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Klein used IKB to create
monochromatic paintings, sculptures, and performance art. His work explored themes of
spirituality and the immaterial, leaving a lasting impact on modern art and color theory.

Prussian Blue

Prussian Blue is a dark blue pigment discovered by accident in 1704 by a Berlin color maker. It
became the first modern synthetic pigment, revolutionizing the availability and use of blue in art.
Its intense color and stability made it popular in paintings, and it remains important in various
applications, including blueprints and the treatment of heavy metal poisoning.

What Compound was Used to Create a Non-toxic Red Color During the 16th to
17th Century?

During the 16th to 17th century, cochineal, a natural dye derived from the cochineal insect, was
used to create a vibrant, non-toxic red color. Cochineal dye was highly prized for its brilliant hue
and used in textiles, paintings, and cosmetics, becoming a major export from the Americas to
Europe.
What Compound Do Mango Leaves Contain That Makes Their Urine Yellow?

Mango leaves contain mangiferin, a bioactive compound that can cause the urine to turn yellow.
Mangiferin has various health benefits, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,
and is used in traditional medicine.

Mauveine: The First Affordable Purple/Violet Paint

Mauveine, discovered by William Henry Perkin in 1856, was the first synthetic dye and
affordable purple pigment. Its discovery marked the beginning of the synthetic dye industry,
making vibrant purple accessible and popular in textiles and fashion, which had previously been
a color reserved for the wealthy due to the expense of natural purple dyes.

Protanopia, Tritanopia, Monochromatism

Protanopia is a type of color blindness where individuals cannot perceive red light, causing
confusion between red and green hues. Tritanopia is another form of color blindness where blue
and yellow hues are indistinguishable. Monochromatism, or total color blindness, is a rare
condition where only shades of gray are seen, due to the absence or malfunction of all three color
receptors in the eyes.