1
$\begingroup$

Where I'm from, most paper you find/get at stores has this yellowish tinge. Why is it yellow and not white?

In my chemistry book it's mentioned that paper manufacturers "refine" paper from wood pulp, and that this involves treating the pulp with $\ce{CaCO3, TiO3}$, etc and this is what makes paper white.

But the paper that's commonly available here is yellow(ish). Is it because the manufacturers don't carry out the required treatment with $\ce{CaCO3}$ and $\ce{TiO3}$ (why would they do that anyway?), or could it be due to some other reason?

Also, if treatment with $\ce{CaCO3}$ and $\ce{TiO3}$ is what's used to color paper white, can someone tell me how the color change to white (from what would've otherwise been yellow paper), actually works?

My question is different from the proposed duplicate. In my question, I'd like to know why (relatively fresh) paper is yellow, straight out of the press. I'm not asking for why paper yellows over time.

|improve this question
$\endgroup$
  • 5
    $\begingroup$ Possible duplicate of Why does paper turn yellow over time? $\endgroup$ – Mithoron Nov 30 '17 at 14:56
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @Mithoron read the question carefully i did not ask why it becomes yellow over time i asked that produced paper itself is yellow from the very beginning of making $\endgroup$ – user55439 Nov 30 '17 at 15:13
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Paper is brownish-grey. You only make it white by bleaching or mixing it with various white inorganic powders. $\endgroup$ – Karl Nov 30 '17 at 21:24
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ You already named them. ?!? $\endgroup$ – Karl Nov 30 '17 at 21:37
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ @Mith Think I'll have to agree with the OP here. That doesn't look like a dupe O:) $\endgroup$ – paracetamol Dec 1 '17 at 9:46

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.