Optics: crystals exhibiting interference colours. Colour mezzotint [?] by R.H. Digeon, ca. 1883, after J. Silbermann.

Cells crawling across crystals

Kidney stone

Artificial sweetener saccharin crystals, LM

Salbutamol crystals

Chemistry: various crystalline substances. Coloured engraving.

Dried buffer crystals, LM

Cells crawling across ceramic crystals

concept

Shop

Galleries and Reading Room

Library

Café

We’re undertaking research with website visitors to find out some more about you and what you thought about your visit. This survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. Thank you for your time!

What brought you to our website today?

Density-dependent colour scanning electron micrograph of the surface of a histological slide from a kidney stone (nephrolithiasis). Kidney stones form when salts, minerals and chemicals in the urine (for example calcium, oxalate and uric acid) crystallise and solidify. This dense, calcified material is visible here. Micrographs were coloured in post-processing by combining images acquired by two modes of image acquisition that use different kinds of electron microscope detectors. Colours relate to the different detectors and how they interact with the material. Horizontal width of image is 6.5 microns.

Crystals of tartaric acid. This compound is found in many fruits and can be added to foods to give them a sour taste and to act as an anti-oxidant. As an additive it is known as E334.

Tartaric acid crystals

1 print : engraving ; platemark 24 x 18.6 cm

Chemistry: geometric representations of crystalline substances. Coloured engraving by J. Pass, 1802, after C. Hauy.

Chemistry: geometrical representations of crystalline substances. Engraving by J. Pass, 1802, after H. Lascelles.

Wellcome uses cookies.

Crystals

Images

Works

Kidney stone

Tartaric acid crystals

Chemistry: geometric representations of crystalline substances. Coloured engraving by J. Pass, 1802, after C. Hauy.

Chemistry: geometrical representations of crystalline substances. Engraving by J. Pass, 1802, after H. Lascelles.

Kidney stone

Today’s opening times

Wellcome uses cookies.

Crystals

Images

Works

Kidney stone

Tartaric acid crystals

Chemistry: geometric representations of crystalline substances. Coloured engraving by J. Pass, 1802, after C. Hauy.

Chemistry: geometrical representations of crystalline substances. Engraving by J. Pass, 1802, after H. Lascelles.

Kidney stone

Wellcome Collection

Today’s opening times