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.
An iridescent biofilm on the surface of a fishtank diffracts the reflected light, displaying the entire spectrum of colours. Red is seen from longer angles of incidence than blue.
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
Iridescence in meat is caused by light diffraction on the exposed muscle cells on the meat surface.
An ammolite gemstone is a fossil ammonite.
A bismuth crystal with a thin iridescent layer of bismuth oxide
Goethite, an iron(III) oxide-hydroxide, from Polk County, Arkansas
An engine oil spill
Cloud iridescence
Pearlescent paint job on a Toyota Supra car
Playing surface of a compact disc
The iridescent exoskeleton of a golden stag beetle