Multidisciplinary Learning: Redox Chemistry and Pigment History

The interface of art and science provides a broad range of educational and collaborative projects at various learning stages. Therefore, the use of historic artists' materials for teaching chemistry is receiving more attention. We prepared and used copper acetate (verdigris pigment) for a series of interconnected, lab-based activities, which can be applied to high-school-level chemistry, to undergraduate general chemistry, and further to heritage conservation science research for emerging art conservators. The synthesis and degradation processes of artists' materials like this pigment allow instructors to illustrate scientific concepts like redox chemistry, while extending the vision of science to arenas beyond the classroom.