What Are Acid Dyes? Understanding Their Composition and Uses
Acid dyes are a kind of dye that is widely used in the textile industry to color materials like wool, silk, and nylon. These dyes are recognised for their brilliant colors and are often used to generate a variety of tints and colors. But what exactly are acidic dyes, and how do they function? Composition of Acid Dyes The two main components of acidic dyes are an auxochrome, a functional group that aids in binding the dye to the fabric, and a chromophore, the portion of the molecule that absorbs light and gives the dye its color. The complex chemical molecule known as the chromophore, which is what gives a dye its color, is made up of a system of conjugated double bonds. Generally, petrochemicals like benzene and naphthalene are used to create acidic dyes, which are then often created via the sulfonation process. To make the final dye molecule, the petrochemical must react with sulphuric acid to form a sulfonic acid group, which must then be neutralized with a base. Ty...