Abstract
A NEUTRAL solution of visual purple exposed to bright light bleaches almost instantly to a deep orange colour, then more slowly to pale yellow. This transition has been believed to be wholly photochemical; the orange material a mixture of unbleached visual purple with the final yellow residue1. Both assumptions are mistaken: the orange photo-product is new pigment, which fades to yellow in complete darkness.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kühne, W., Hermanns Hdbch. der Physiol., Bd. 3, 308 (1879).
Hardy, A. C., J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 25, 305 (1935).
Kühne, W., J. Opt. Soc. Amer., 25, 321; Hecht, S., Chase, A. M., Shlaer, S., and Haig, C., Science, 84, 331 (1936).
Hosoya, Y., Arch. ges. Physiol., 233, 57 (1933).
Chase, A. M., J. Gen. Physiol., 19, 577 (1935–36).
König, A., Sitzungsber. Akcad. Wiss. Berlin, 577 (1894); Köttgen, E., and Abelsdorff G., Z. Psych. Physiol. Sinnesorg., 12, 161 (1896)
Wald, G., J. Gen. Physiol., 19, 351, 781 (1935–36).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WALD, G. Bleaching of Visual Purple in Solution. Nature 139, 587–588 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1038/139587a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/139587a0
This article is cited by
-
The photochemistry of vision
Documenta Ophthalmologica (1949)
-
Absorption Curve for Visual Purple and the Electrical Response of the Frog's Eye
Nature (1937)
-
Visual Purple System in Fresh-water Fishes
Nature (1937)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
