A video creator made Prussian blue pigment, also known as Berlin blue or Parisian blue, from scratch. Prussian blue is a synthetic pigment made from iron in its two oxidation states, iron two-plus and iron three-plus, mixed with cyanide groups. Despite containing cyanide, it is not very toxic because the groups are tightly bound to the iron.
The creator made the pigment by mixing a ferrocyanide salt with an iron three-plus salt, ferric chloride. They made the ferric chloride themselves using hydrochloric acid, steel wool, and hydrogen peroxide. After obtaining the ferric chloride, they mixed it with potassium ferrocyanide to form the Prussian blue pigment.
The creator then made oil paint using the Prussian blue pigment and linseed oil. They applied a coat of gesso to a piece of paper, mixed the pigment with linseed oil, and painted chemical structures and a butterfly on the paper using the homemade paint.
The video is the first in a series of three, and the creator plans to cover the process of making blueprints using Prussian blue in the next video.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Prussian blue is a synthetic pigment made from a mix of iron in its two oxidation states, iron(II) and iron(III).
2. Prussian blue is also known as Berlin blue or Parisian blue.
3. The iron(II) ion in Prussian blue is coordinated with six cyanide groups.
4. Prussian blue contains cyanide, but it is not very toxic because the groups are tightly bound to the iron.
5. Prussian blue can be used as a pigment in paint and ink.
6. Prussian blue can also be used in a process called cyanotype to develop images onto paper.
7. Prussian blue can be used to sequester certain heavy metal poisons in the digestive tract.
8. The most common way to make Prussian blue is to mix a ferrocyanide salt with an iron(III) salt like ferric chloride.
9. To make ferric chloride, hydrochloric acid, steel wool, and hydrogen peroxide can be used.
10. Steel wool is not a high-grade steel and may contain impurities.
11. Iron(II) chloride can be oxidized to iron(III) chloride using hydrogen peroxide.
12. Iron(III) chloride can also be oxidized by bubbling air through it, but this process is slower.
13. To make Prussian blue, a solution of iron(III) chloride is mixed with a solution of potassium ferrocyanide.
14. The reaction produces Prussian blue and potassium chloride as a side product.
15. Prussian blue can be separated from the reaction mixture using a coffee filter.
16. Prussian blue can be dried in an oven or by air-drying.
17. To make oil paint, Prussian blue pigment is mixed with linseed oil.
18. The final consistency of the paint depends on the preference of the artist.
19. Prussian blue paint can be used to draw chemical structures, paint a butterfly, and other artistic purposes.
20. The process of making blueprints is different from making Prussian blue pigment and involves a light-sensitive process using different chemicals.