Iridescence Facts for Kids

Iridescence is a physical property of some surfaces. Their colour appears to change as the angle of view or illumination changes.

Examples of natural iridescence are common. It can be seen in soap bubbles, butterfly wings and sea shells, and certain minerals. These are structural colours caused by microstructures which interfere with light.

The physical process which causes iridescence is usually interference.

Images for kids

Fuel on top of water creates a thin film, which interferes with the light, producing different colours. The different bands represent different thicknesses in the film. This phenomenon is known as thin-film interference.
An iridescent biofilm on the surface of a fish tank diffracts the reflected light, displaying the entire spectrum of colours. Red is seen from longer angles of incidence than blue.
The iridescent exoskeleton of a golden stag beetle
Structurally coloured wings of Morpho didius
The inside surface of Haliotis iris, the paua shell
Structurally coloured wings of a Tachinid fly
Both the body and the train of the peacock are iridescent
A catfish
The rainbow boa
Nicobar pigeon
Iridescent Begonia leaf
Iridescence in meat, caused by light diffraction on the exposed muscle cells
A bismuth crystal with a thin iridescent layer of bismuth oxide, with a whitish-silver bismuth cube for comparison
Goethite, an iron(III) oxide-hydroxide, from Polk County, Arkansas
Polished labradorite
An engine oil spill
Cloud iridescence
Pearlescent paint job on a Toyota Supra car
Playing surface of a compact disc
Iridescent glitter nail polish
Smartphone with iridescent back panel
Pearlescent paint on a BMW