Colouring science — chemistry of dyes

What you'll learn

1. 1

   Dyes are molecules that stick to hair or fabric to change their colour. Think of them like tiny magnets that latch on!

2. 2

   Here's a simple dye molecule. The coloured part (chromophore) absorbs some light, and the rest bounces back to your eye as the colour you see.

3. 3

   Let's work out why a blue dye looks blue.

4. 4

   A red dye absorbs which colours of light?

5. 5

   Drag the dye molecule to match the colour it makes. A molecule that absorbs blue light will look...

6. 6

   What's the name of the part of a dye molecule that absorbs light?

7. 7

   If a dye absorbs blue light, what colour will it appear?