Scheele's Emerald Green Pigment

Description

Scheele’s Green is a vivid yellow-green pigment made from copper arsenite. Its bright, fresh green hue made it immensely popular in the late 18th and 19th centuries, especially in wallpapers, textiles, and paints. When freshly prepared, it produces a luminous, almost emerald-like green, with moderate opacity and strong tinting strength.

However, Scheele’s Green is highly toxic, containing arsenic, and prone to chemical instability. It can blacken when exposed to sulfur or damp conditions, and when applied to wallpaper or fabrics, it was infamous for releasing poisonous arsenical dust.

History

Scheele’s Green was first developed in 1775 by Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele. It became one of the earliest bright synthetic greens, replacing darker and less stable pigments such as verdigris and green earth.

By the early 19th century, it was widely used in wallpapers, fabrics, toys, and house paints. Unfortunately, its arsenic content made it deadly in enclosed spaces. Damp wallpaper containing Scheele’s Green was linked to outbreaks of arsenic poisoning in Victorian homes, earning it the nickname “poison green.” Some historians even suggest it contributed to illnesses (and possibly the death) of figures such as Napoleon, whose wallpaper at St. Helena was dyed with it.

In fine art, it was used in watercolors, prints, and decorative painting but gradually fell out of use as safer pigments like chrome oxide green (PG17) and viridian (PG18) became available.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Synthetic Inorganic

Chemical Composition: CuHAsO₃ (Copper Arsenite)

Suitable Mediums: Historically used in Watercolor, Tempera, Fresco, Wallpaper, and Decorative Arts (not recommended today)

Lightfastness: Moderate (can darken in sulfurous environments)

Opacity: Semi-Opaque to Opaque

Other Names: Arsenic Green, Emerald Green, Swedish Green, Poison Green, Schloss Green

Color Index Code: PG22

Health and Safety

• For art use only. Not for cosmetic, food or children's use.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working.
• Avoid creating or breathing dust. Work in a ventilated area and wear a NIOSH approved dust respirator (P100 or better) when handling dry pigment.
• Wear gloves and eye protection. Wash hands and work surfaces after use, and never rinse pigment into drains.
• Do not spray apply, sand or burn.
• If swallowed or if you feel unwell, contact a poison control center (U.S. 1-800-222-1222) or a doctor.
• Safety Data Sheet available on request.

Caution: Contains arsenic. Fatal if swallowed. Toxic if inhaled. Inorganic arsenic compounds cause cancer. Wear gloves, avoid all dust, and never use near food, drink or eating surfaces. Not for use by children or by anyone pregnant. Very toxic to aquatic life; never rinse into drains. Wear a P100 respirator (full face, or half face with goggles) when handling the dry pigment; N95 and P95 masks are not sufficient.

WARNING: This product can expose you to arsenic, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.