Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026

Exfoliation of Egyptian Blue and Han Blue, Two Alkali Earth Copper Silicate-based Pigments
Published on: April 24, 2014
A definitive analytical spectroscopic study of Indian yellow, an ancient pigment used for dating purposes
Dalva L A de Faria1, Howell G M Edwards2, Valeria Careaga3
1Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 748, Butantã, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Interinstitutional Graduate Program in Museology (PPGMus-USP), University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 1466, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508-070, Brazil.
Abstract:
The Raman spectrum of tartrazine has been mistakenly reported as being that of Indian yellow in the literature, which has serious consequences for the identification of this pigment in art works regarding their authentication. Unlike tartrazine, Indian yellow (a natural mixture of the magnesium and calcium salts of euxanthic acid) exhibits in its Raman spectrum a strong fluorescent background when visible excitation is used, however, excitation in the near infrared (1064nm) permitted the observation of the Raman bands from the raw pigment with the main features placed at 1346, 1368, 1425, 1441 and 1626cm-1. Indian yellow identification was assured by 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance characterization and the complete assignment of the proton and carbon resonances was accomplished using heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC), heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) and 1H-1H correlation spectroscopy (COSY). Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzes were also conducted on a genuine sample of this historical pigment.
Related Concept Videos
UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems
One of the factors influencing λmax is the extent of conjugation in...
Spectroscopy of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives
Spectrophotometry: Introduction
The essential components of a spectrophotometer include a source of electromagnetic radiation, a slot for placing a material to be analyzed, and a...
IR and UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Carboxylic Acids
However, the stretching absorptions for the C=O bond vary depending on the structure of carboxylic acids. The C=O bond of the free carboxylic acids shows a higher stretching frequency, 1760 cm−1, while H-bonded carboxylic acids (dimers) exhibit stretching absorptions at a lower frequency,...
IR and UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Aldehydes and Ketones

