Brilliant yellow
Description
An unstandardized pigment name.
1. Brilliant yellow was used for Naples yellow and for a mixture of cadmium yellow with either lead white or zinc white. This yellow mixture is very toxic and no longer in use.
2. Brilliant Yellow is also a brand name used for a synthetic disazo dye developed in 1886 by F. Bender and G. Schulz. It is used to directly dye cotton, [[rayon fiber|rayon], flax, and paper fibers. Brilliant yellow is commonly used as a pH indicator and for biological research for biosensors, as an anti-fungal agent, in anti-AIDS research, and in enzyme activity. It is light-sensitive, requiring storage in amber vials, often in a refrigerator.
Synonyms and Related Terms
For Brilliant yellow dye (definition 2)
- Direct Yellow 4; CI 24890; amarillo brillante (Esp.); giallo brillante (It.); Direct Yellow C; Paper Yellow CB; Direct Brilliant Yellow G; 4,4'-Bis[(4-hydroxyphenyl)azo]stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, sodium salt
Risks
For Brilliant yellow dye (definition 2)
- Toxic by ingestion and inhalation.
- NIH: Information sheet
Physical and Chemical Properties
For Brilliant yellow dye (definition 2)
- Soluble in water. Slightly soluble in ethanol and acetone
- Max abs. at 497 nm.
- pH indicator dye (6.4=yellow to 8.0=orange).
- Composition = C26H18N4Na2O8S2
- CAS = 3051-11-4
- Orange powder
- Density = 1.5 g/cm3
- Melting point = 250 C
Resources and Citations
- Wikipedia: Direct Yellow 4 Accessed April 2026
- M. Doerner, The Materials of the Artist, Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1934
- Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
- Colour Index International online at www.colour-index.org
- Sigma Dyes, Stains and Natural Pigments, Infrared Library, Nicolet, 1991-1995 Comment: OMNIC: formula= C26H20N4O8S2, CAS= 3051-11-4