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Dyes in Culture
Click here to learn about dye use in cultures- henna, batik, achiote and Navajo dyes

Natural Dyes in Culture include:

Dye Terms in Common Language
Origins of terms such as "dyed in the wool" and "red tape"

Dyes in Life Worsheet
Complete this worksheet at home

Dye Chemistry Categories

Natural Dyes For thousands of years, dyes were obtained from natural surces, such as plants and animals. In spite of the fact that synthetic dyes have replaced many natural dyes for commercial use, natural dyes still hold a fascination and are used extensively by artisans around the world. The most common type of natural dyes are acid or anionic dyes used on eggshells and wool.	Vat Dyes Indigo and Inkodyes are used to illustrate how vat dyes are synthesized and used. Until the end of the 19th century, all colors were obtained from natural sources, but today the number of synthetic colorants exceeds 7,000. One class of these colorants, the vat dyes, contains not only the oldest natural dyes known, but also many important synthetic dyes. Synthetic dyes from coal tar (aniline) produce a wide array of colors and are more colorfast.	Food Dyes Dyes aren't just for fabrics. Colrants have been added to food for centuries to enhance its appearance. Synthetic colorants are currently approved for use in foods. Color is a big factor in what foods we choose and how much we enjoy a food. Many food dyes have been banned through the years because they were shown to cause cancer. Currently only 7 FD&C dyes are approved in the US. While some food colorings are natural, 95% of those used today are artificial.
History of Natural & Vegetable Dyes Dyes A Natural Dye Activity Kathryn of the Hills Dye Book	Deepak Chemicals Vat Powders Royce Textile Division   TR-383	Food Dyes     FDA:Color Additives   Read more about the food dye controversy here.

Draw your own Dye Chemical

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Chemistry of bonding of dyes to fibers is complex, involves direct bonding, H-bonds, hydrophobic interactions.

Mordants - increase binding of dye to fabric by forming a chemical bridge from dye to fiber, can also affect color.

ChemFinder Search Enter a chemical name, CAS Number, molecular formula, or molecular weight from www.chemfinder.com