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Why do markers smell bad? |
What’s causing the stink? It’s the ink!
There are three basic parts to the ink in most markers. There’s the pigment, which is a fancy name for the color. There’s a binder, which could be made of a few things. This is what makes the ink stick to surfaces like paper. The third part is the smelly one. It’s called a “solvent.” The solvent is wet and it carries the pigment out of the marker. When you write with the marker, the solvent dries, and the pigment is left on the writing surface.
In most permanent markers, the solvents are a special type of chemicals called “alcohols.” These chemicals smell, but unlike water, they dry quickly, so they are good ingredients for markers.
Have you ever written something with a marker and it smudged? That’s because the solvent hasn’t had a chance to dry all the way.
Marker Safety
Markers are great for drawing and coloring, but the smells are sometimes not good for you, especially with older markers. Keep them as far away from your nose as possible. Ask grown-ups to see if markers are safe for you to use. Some companies, like Crayola, make a kind of marker for kids with ink that smells good, but you should let that ink dry and smell it on paper. Again, check with a grown-up to make sure these are safe.
Tools of Choice
Do you have a favorite way to color? Is it with markers? Is it with crayons or colored pencils? Try drawing and coloring the same picture three times. Use markers for one, crayons for another, and colored pencils for the other one. Which worked the best?
Some people like crayons because there are a lot of colors to choose from. Some people like markers because they cover up white paper better. Some people like pencils because you can erase them. They’re all great for drawing and coloring. Have fun figuring out which ones work best for you!