MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Re: Why does the same chemical (aziridine) appear to be darker in volume?

Date: Wed Mar 31 13:39:23 1999
Posted By: Dan Berger, Faculty Chemistry/Science, Bluffton College
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 922734905.Ch
Message:

Why does the same chemical (aziridine) appear to be darker in volume?

Place this chemical side by side in a 8 ounce glass jar and fill one with exactly 3 ounces and the other 8 ounces. There is a extreme color difference. Is there a term which describes the color difference by volume? Also happens with water! why?


Any colored liquid will appear darker "in volume." (Try it with Kool-Aid.) This is because "color" means that the material (even if transparent and colored) absorbs light, and the more of the material there is between you and the source of light, the more light will be absorbed.

Aziridine and other amines are not intrinsically colored, but take on color as they decompose when exposed to air.

By the way, I hope you are taking suitable precautions with aziridine; the MSDS says it is toxic and a severe explosion hazard when the vapor is allowed to mix with air.

  Dan Berger
  Bluffton College
  http://cs.bluffton.edu/~berger


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