Cobalt green
A green pigment made by adding cobalt to other oxides
No single value: Cobalt green is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, green.
Cobalt green refers to two groups of green pigments created by adding cobalt(II) oxide to colourless oxides. One type uses a spinel structure, while another, known as Rinman's green, is made by adding cobalt to zinc oxide. The pigment can show different colours depending on its structure and is sometimes considered for use in magnetic devices.
- First made by Sven Rinman in 1780
- Made by adding cobalt(II) oxide to other oxides
- Colour shifts from green to pink with more cobalt
- Studied for use in magnetic electronic devices
What colour is Cobalt green?
Cobalt green is a group of artificial green pigments made by adding cobalt(II) oxide to other oxides. The colour can range from a strong green to pink, depending on how much cobalt is included and the structure of the material. These pigments are known for their clear, cool green shade, and are made in a laboratory rather than found in nature.
Where does Cobalt green come from?
The pigment called Rinman's green was first made in 1780 by Swedish chemist Sven Rinman. The name 'cobalt green' covers both this zinc-based pigment and another group based on spinel structures. Both types are created by mixing cobalt with other metal oxides, but their exact colour and properties depend on the host material and how much cobalt is used.
How is Cobalt green made?
To produce cobalt green, cobalt(II) oxide is mixed into colourless oxides such as zinc oxide, magnesium titanate, or zinc titanate. When cobalt is added to zinc oxide, the result is Rinman's green. The structure of the pigment changes with the amount of cobalt: low cobalt gives a green pigment, while high cobalt turns it pink. The process is done at high temperatures in a controlled environment.
Where Cobalt green is used
Cobalt green has been used in ceramics and painting, though not as widely as other green pigments. Its use is limited by its higher cost and the fact that it does not produce as strong a colour as some alternatives. In recent years, it has also been studied for possible use in electronic devices that use both magnetic and electronic properties.
Green around the world
What the green family means from country to country.
A green kerchief is the sign of the campaign for legal abortion. Huge crowds wore it in 2018, and the movement was called the green wave.
Politics and protestHopeSource: Green scarfGreen and gold have been the official national colours since 1984 and are worn by national sports teams. They echo the leaves and flowers of the golden wattle.
Festival and celebrationPrideSource: National colours of AustraliaA Test cricketer is given a dark green cap, the baggy green, on first playing for Australia. Many players wear the same faded cap for a whole career.
Festival and celebrationPrideSource: Baggy greenThe green field of the flag stands for the land and its rice fields. Many people also read it as the youth and vigour of the country.
Nature and renewalPolitics and protestHopeSource: Flag of BangladeshThe flag is white, green and red. The green band, which took the place of the blue in the Russian flag, is read as the country's forests and farmland.
Politics and protestNature and renewalSource: Flag of BulgariaThe green field of the flag is commonly said to stand for the forests. It was first the colour of the House of Braganza, the family of the first emperor.
Politics and protestNature and renewalPrideSource: Flag of BrazilShades and relatives of Cobalt green
There are two main types of cobalt green: one based on zinc oxide (Rinman's green) and another based on spinel structures using magnesium or zinc titanate. The pigment can also shift in colour from green to pink depending on how much cobalt is present. It is sometimes confused with other green pigments, such as chromium(III) oxide.
Questions people ask about Cobalt green
What colour is cobalt green?
Cobalt green is a cool, clear green pigment. Its exact shade can vary depending on the structure and how much cobalt is present, ranging from strong green to pink.
Where does the name cobalt green come from?
The name comes from the use of cobalt(II) oxide in making the pigment. One type, called Rinman's green, was first made by Swedish chemist Sven Rinman in 1780.
How is cobalt green made?
Cobalt green is made by mixing cobalt(II) oxide with colourless oxides like zinc oxide or magnesium titanate at high temperatures. The resulting pigment's colour depends on the amount of cobalt used.
What is Rinman's green?
Rinman's green is a type of cobalt green pigment made by adding cobalt(II) oxide to zinc oxide. It was discovered by Sven Rinman in 1780.
Where is cobalt green used?
Cobalt green has been used in ceramics and painting, and is being studied for possible use in electronic devices with magnetic properties.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Cobalt green", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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