Grades K–2 · Everyday Life
How does a crayon color paper?
A crayon feels like one solid stick, but it is made from more than one ingredient. Wax holds very small pieces of colored material called pigment. The pigment gives the crayon its color.
In the diagramA crayon leaves colored wax on the pageWax holds tiny pigment pieces that give the colorSolid crayonColoring rubs off waxA much closer viewPink layer: waxDark dots: pigmentBoth the wax and the pigment become part of the colored mark.
When a crayon rubs across paper, a little colored wax stays on the surface. Paper has tiny bumps that help rub material from the crayon. Both the wax and its pigment become part of the mark.
Another pass can leave more colored material. That is why a lightly colored patch can become more covered as the crayon passes over it. The wax helps the pigment stay together in the stick and in the mark on the page.
About this explanation
Starting knowledge: Recognize a crayon, a colored mark and a sheet of paper.
Sources
- Crayola — Can you provide information about the science of Crayola Crayons?
- University of Illinois Library — Preservation Self-Assessment Program: Inks and Other Media