EXPERIMENT

Objective :- The objective of the experiment is to synthesize artist pigment

Chrome yellow.

Aim :- To Synthesize of Chrome yellow Pigments by Precipitation.

Apparatus :- Chemicals :-

Balance Sodium chromate

Filter Paper Zinc Sulfate

3 beakers (25 mL) 6M NaOH

10 mL graduated Cylinder

Buchner Funnel

Filtering flask

Theory :-
A pigment is any substance that when finely powdered gives its color to
another material. A pigment is usually mixed with a “binding medium” such as
oil or egg tempera. Pigments remain suspended in the binding medium when
mixed to form paint in contrast to dyes, which are colored substances that
dissolve in liquids and give their color effects by staining1 .

Artist’s pigments are prepared in many ways. They are ground from naturally
occurring minerals such as cinnabar (cinnamon to scarlet color), azurite (deep
blue color), or malachite (green color). Or they may be prepared synthetically
in the laboratory. Most pigments that we know are inorganic compounds. They
are prepared by the precipitation of aqueous ions in solution, by the oxidation
of metals, or by combustion or burning processes. A few colored pigments are
formed through chemical synthesis and chemical change involving various
organic chemicals as starting materials.

Many inorganic pigments are prepared by the mixing of two colorless or lightly
colored solutions of inorganic ions to produce a highly colored, insoluble
precipitate of the desired pigment. Other inorganic pigments are made by the
direct combination of two or more chemicals in the solid or gaseous phase to
produce the desired product.

The original chrome yellow chemical formula is PbCrO4. Chromate pigments

contain the ion chromate, with formula CrO4 2− which must be carefully
disposed as it is toxic and considered hazardous waste. Unfortunately, chrome
yellow also contains lead, a very toxic heavy metal. Zinc chrome yellow is an
alternative yellow pigment that does not contain lead. It is formally basic zinc
chromate, ZnCrO4•Zn(OH)2. We will make this pigment first by mixing
potassium chromate K2CrO4 and zinc chloride ZnCl2 solutions to produce Zinc
chromate through a precipitation reaction2 and then adding NaOH to make
the solution basic. The result is solid yellow ZnCrO4•Zn(OH)2.

Procedure :
1.Pour 5 mL of a 0.5 M solution of sodium or potassium chromate into a
beaker. Record the color of the solution in your notebook.

2.Add 5mL of a 0.5 M solution of zinc sulphate or zinc chloride to the beaker
and stir the two solutions together .Describe your observations when the two
solutions were mixed together.

3. Test the pH with either pH or limus paper .Add 6 M NaOH drop wise to make
the solution basic and mix well. The color will change from yellow-orange to
bright yellow.

4.Gravity filter the precipitate of zinc chromate.

5.Allow the pigment to dry uncovered on the filter paper on your bench until
next week.

Advantages:-
1.Good covering power and coloring power. As the content of PbCrO4
increases, the darker the color, the better the coverage.

2.No chalking in the atmosphere.

Disadvantages:-
1) The color will become darker under the action of light.

2) It will react with PBS when it meets H2S and is black and toxic.

3) It will turn into orange-chrome yellow when it meets alkali and should
not be shared with alkaline pigments.

Uses:-
Chrome yellow is used in industrial paints, some artist's paints and ceramic
glazes. Other yellow chromate pigments are sometimes also called chrome
yellow. Strontium chromate, zinc chromate, and Barium chromate are pale
yellow pigments that are often mixed and called lemon yellow.

Precautions:-

1.Follow the dress code.

2.Maintain personal hygiene.

3.Take responsibility for your personal safety.

4.Maintain a clean workspace.

5.Report accidents if they occur.

Result:-

The amount of Zinc chromate pigment is ………… .