Manganese Violet

Artificial inorganic pigment

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Composition and Properties of Manganese Violet

Manganese violet is ammonium manganese-(III) pyrophosphate with the formula of  MnNH4P2O7. The pigment is destroyed by strong acids and alkalis. It is resistant to heat up to 250 °C and has excellent stability to light.

manganese-violett-crystals

Pigment

Manganese-violet-painted-swatch

Painted swatch

References

(1) J. D. Lee and L. S. Browne, The nature and properties of manganese violet, J. Chem. Soc. A, 1968, 559-561, DOI: 10.1039/J19680000559.

Names

Alternative names

Nuernberg violet

Color Index

PV 16, CI 77742

Word origin

As the name of a black mineral, oxide of manganese (used from ancient times in glassmaking for removing coloring matter), from French manganèse, from Italian manganese, alteration or corruption of Medieval Latin magnesia.

From Online Etymology Dictionary

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Manganviolett

German

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Violet de manganèse

French

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Violetto di manganese

Italian

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Violetta de manganeso

Spanish

Preparation

The pigment can be prepared by heating a mixture of manganese oxide, phosphoric acid, and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate at 120 °C for 4 hours and subsequently at 300 °C for a further 1 hour. Finally, water is added to the hot reaction mixture and it is boiled for a further 4 hours. The resulting product is then washed and dried (1).

References

(1) J. D. Lee and L. S. Browne, The nature and properties of manganese violet, J. Chem. Soc. A, 1968, 559-561, DOI: 10.1039/J19680000559.

Video: 'Pigment synthesis' by The Nation Of Our Hobbies

History of Use 

The pigment was discovered in 1868 but was not used frequently in oil painting due to its low tinting strength.

Jackson Pollock, Alchemy, 1947

jackson-pollock-alchemy

Identification

Optical Spectroscopy

Reflectance and fluorescence spectra at Bob Fosbury, Flickr

Infrared Spectrum

Interactive IR-Spectrum at IRUG (Infrared and Raman User Group) Spectral Database.

IR-Spectrum in: D. E. C. Corbridge and E. J. Lowe, J. Chem. SOG., 1953, 493.

manganese-violet-microphotograph

Microphotograph

image © Volker Emrath

Further Reading

References

(1) J. D. Lee and L. S. Browne, The nature and properties of manganese violet, J. Chem. Soc. A, 1968, 559-561, DOI: 10.1039/J19680000559.

S. Muntwyler, J. Lipscher, HP. Schneider, Das Farbenbuch, 2nd. Ed., 2023, alataverlag Elsau, p. 112.

Examples of Use in Painting