Q: X is a dye named for a country, associated with the name of a revolt in that country in 1859, and whose colour is popularly associated today with denim jeans. Name X.
A: Indigo
Q: Name the natural reddish-purple dye secreted as a mucus by molluscs of the family Muricidae. Until the 15th century, producing meaningful quantities of the dye required thousands of snails and considerable human labour. So the dye was expensive and associated with the elite.
A: Tyrian purple
Q: In ancient India, Greece, and Mesopotamia, among other civilisations, this dye was prized for its strong crimson hue. It was made from the desiccated dead bodies of certain scale insects. The name of the dye comes from the Sanskrit for “made by worms”. Name it.
A: Kermes
Q: The same family of plants that produce coffee, Rubiaceae, include the genus Rubia, whose colloquial name is Q. A dye extracted from Rubia plants’ roots imparts a red colour. In 1869, this dye became the first natural dye to be synthesised in the lab. Name Q.
A: Rose madder
Q: _________ __ is a fluorescent dye: it absorbs some light and re-emits it at a lower frequency. So by adding it to water, one can track the water’s flow. It’s also used in fluorescence microscopy and can be used to produce laser light. Fill in the blanks.
A: Rhodamine 6G
Q: This is ____ _______, known as the “father of immunology”. In 1891, he identified a particular dye, methylene blue, to be a potential treatment for malaria. Name him.
A: Paul Ehrlich
