Color is an essential element of human visual perception, which exists in all aspects of our daily lives and plays a key role in scientific research and technological applications. Color is produced by various mechanisms, including absorption and reflection of chemical pigments, complex formation of transition metal ions, and micro- and nanostructural modulation of structural colors. This paper aims to comprehensively explore the scientific principles of color generation and its applications in different fields. The article first describes how transition metal ions exhibit colors by forming complexes and explains in detail the coordination process of copper ions in an aqueous solution and its resulting d-orbital splitting, which in turn absorbs light of specific wavelengths and exhibits complementary colors. Secondly, the article explores the mechanism of color expression of natural pigments in plants, significantly how pigment molecules containing conjugated double bonds, such as -carotene, can absorb specific wavelengths of light and exhibit vivid colors through electron delocalization and energy level jumps. Finally, the article illustrates the principles of structural color and its potential for industrial applications, including using micro- and nanostructures, such as photonic crystals, to modulate the scattering and absorption of light, thus enabling dynamic changes in color and environmental protection. The in-depth exploration of the mechanism of color generation enhances our understanding of the basic principles of color science. It provides theoretical support for technological innovation and practical applications in related fields.
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