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Iridescence vs. Opalescence — What's the Difference?

Iridescence vs. Opalescence — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Iridescence and Opalescence

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Iridescence

Exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow, especially a surface reflection which changes color with the angle at which the object is viewed; the quality or state of being iridescent; a prismatic play of color; as, the iridescence of mother-of-pearl. It is due to interference of light waves reflected from the front and back surfaces of a thin layer transpatrent or semitransparent film.

Opalescence

Opalescence refers to the optical phenomena displayed by the mineraloid gemstone opal (hydrated silicon dioxide). However, there are three notable types of opal (precious, common, and fire), each with different optical effects, so the intended meaning varies depending on context.

Iridescence

Iridescence (also known as goniochromism) is the phenomenon of certain surfaces that appear to gradually change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Examples of iridescence include soap bubbles, feathers, butterfly wings and seashell nacre, as well as certain minerals.

Opalescence

Exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal.

Iridescence

The quality or state of being iridescent.
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Opalescence

The state of being opalescent

Iridescence

The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color.

Opalescence

(physics) the milky iridescent appearance of a dense transparent medium when it is illuminated by polychromatic visible radiation (such as sunlight) due to local fluctuations in its density and therefore in its refractive index

Iridescence

Any shimmer of glittering and changeable colors.

Opalescence

A reflection of a milky or pearly light from the interior of a mineral, as in the moonstone; the state or quality of being opalescent.

Iridescence

The visual property of something having a milky brightness

Opalescence

The visual property of something having a milky brightness

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