The Problems of Describing and Identifying Colors and a Philatelic Solution A common problem in laboratory work, especially a t the undergraduate level, is the identification and description of colors. Because of the present limited vocabulary it is usually necessary to invent names to describe colors and great difficulties are encountered when trying to distinguish between closely related shades. When working with colored species some sort of a simple color reference scheme would be most useful. A seemingly unrelated field to chemistry but one that has experienced similar problems in color identification is philately (stamp collecting). Since the difference in shade of a stamp could change its value by hundreds of dollars the major stamp distributors have issued "color guides" to assist collectors.' These guides, which consist of about 100 different colors. each individuallv named and arraneed in'the order of the soeetrum. are ideal for chemical Durmses since !mart of the rulcss and shades ronnmonly rnvwntrrrd are lktrd in them. 'l'hetr lou roil rind rumpnct sire make them errelltnr i c r u;r in plncca ruch as thcmlitry department; and analyticnl Inhomtwiri where they r a n be uwd a: ycnrml reic r m , r I hnrt* turemme much d rhe pcrsonsl interprclxion prvsmtly inwlwd in the ~dentliwationand nnmin
