Bismuth Compounds possess properties very similar to those of antimony. Only one bismuth preparation is used as a pigment, and this is very sensitive to the action of sulphuretted hydrogen, being changed into black bismuth sulphide.
Tin Compounds are employed in two ways: some are themselves colours, such as stannic sulphide (mosaic gold); others, themselves colourless, are used in making pigments, as stannous and stannic chlorides.
Stannous Chloride, SnCl₂.2 H₂O, is obtained when tin is dissolved in hydrochloric acid, hydrogen being evolved. Stannic Chloride, SnCl₄, is formed when tin is dissolved in a mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids (aqua regia).
Tin compounds have, similarly to aluminium salts, the property of forming coloured insoluble compounds (lakes) with many organic colouring matters. Their use for this purpose is extensive.
Arsenic Compounds formerly played an important part in colour making. They were used in the manufacture of a large number of pigments, very beautiful but extremely poisonous. At the present time, we can, fortunately, entirely dispense with arsenic in colour making; the arsenic colours can be replaced by others equally handsome and less, or not at all poisonous. The most important of the arsenic compounds is the trioxide As₂O₃, or Arsenious Acid, commercially known as white arsenic. This substance is obtained in large quantities as a by-product in the extraction of several metals. It forms masses which are either glassy or have the appearance of porcelain. Freshly sublimed arsenic trioxide is glassy; this form gradually changes into the porcellaneous variety, it dissolves with difficulty in water. A strong solution can only be obtained by boiling for many hours.
The compounds of arsenic with sulphur, formerly extensively used as pigments, have now almost fallen into disuse.
Lead Compounds belong to the substances most largely used in making colours. Unfortunately all lead colours have two very important drawbacks. They are all very poisonous and at the same time extremely sensitive to sulphuretted hydrogen, so that they are very considerably altered by the action of the small quantities of that gas contained in the atmosphere of an ordinary dwelling. A striking example of this is seen in the lead paints used on the doors of water-closets. The paint, at first pure white, becomes gradually darker, and at last almost black, the lead compound having been changed into black lead sulphide.
On account of this great sensitiveness of lead compounds, it would be better if they could be excluded from the list of colours. Great care must be taken not to mix lead compounds with others which contain sulphur; a discolouration of the mixture would be the inevitable result in a very short time.
The oxides of lead and a number of its salts are themselves pigments, for example, litharge, PbO, red lead, Pb₃O₄, and white lead (basic lead carbonate). These pigments are prepared on a large scale in particular works. At this point only those lead compounds will be mentioned which are generally used for the preparation of other lead pigments; they are: lead sulphate, nitrate, acetate and chloride.
Lead Sulphate, PbSO₄, is formed when sulphuric acid or the solution of a sulphate is added to the solution of a lead salt; so obtained it is a white crystalline powder insoluble in water. This substance is generally not made in colour works, but is purchased from chemical works or dye houses, of which it is a by-product. In this form (lead bottoms) it is generally not sufficiently pure, but contains admixtures of sulphuric acid or aluminium salts, from which it is freed by washing. The lead sulphate is stirred up in water, the heavy precipitate allowed to settle, the wash water drawn off, and after repeating this process until the wash water no longer shows an acid reaction, the purified precipitate is dried. In this condition it is a heavy, white powder, and can alone be ground into paint. But on account of its crystalline nature, which reduces the covering power, such use is inadvisable.