Light complementary color

Wavelength, nm Color of absorbed light Complementary color... 

Table 2. Colors of Absorbed Light and the Corresponding Complementary Colors as a Function of Wavelength...

The success of separation of colored compounds is usually monitored visually. Such compounds absorb a particular portion of the polychromatic (white) light in the visible wavelength range. The remaining radiation (complementary radiation) is reflected and detected by the eye it determines the color of the substance zone. Table 1 correlates the wavelengths, colors and complementary colors. 

FIGURE 4 The perceived color of a complex in white light is the complementary color of the light that it absorbs. In this color wheel, complementary colors are opposite each other. The numbers are approximate wavelengths in nanometers. 

Molecules that absorb a small wavelength region have a color that is different from the color absorbed. For example, a molecule that absorbs only orange light appears blue. Likewise, a molecule that absorbs only blue appears orange. Orange and blue are said to be complementary colors. The complementary colors are listed in Table 20-5. 

TABLE I. COLORS OF ABSORBED LIGHT AND THE CORRESPONDING COMPLEMENTARY COLORS AS A FUNCTION OF WAVELENGTH... 

SUBTRACTIVE COLOR PROCESS. A method of photographic color synthesis using two or more superimposed colorants, which selectively absorb their complementary colors from white light. 

The visible colors specified (A/C) are A, color of light absorbed C, complementary color transmitted (e.g, "violet/yellow-green" means "violet is color absorbed yellow-green is color transmitted"). 

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