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[[File:lighterstill.jpg]]
==Origin==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''steynen'', partly from Anglo-French ''desteindre'' to take away the [[color]] from & partly of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse ''steina'' to paint
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]
==Definitions==
*1: to suffuse with [[color]]
*2: discolor, [[soil]]
*3a : taint 3 <a conscience stained with [[guilt]]>
:b : to bring discredit on <the scandal stained his reputation>
*4: to color (as wood, glass, or cloth) by [[processes]] affecting chemically or otherwise the [[material]] itself
==Description==
A '''stain''' is a discoloration that can be clearly distinguished from the [[surface]], [[material]], or [[medium]] it is found upon. Stains are caused by the [[chemical]] or [[physical]] [[interaction]] of two dissimilar materials. Stains are used [[intentionally]] in a variety of fields, including in [[research]] (biochemical staining), [[technology]] (metal staining), and art (wood staining, stained glass.)
There can be [[intentional]] stains (such as wood stains or paint), indicative stains (like [[food]] coloring or adding a substance to make [[bacteria]] visible under a microscope), [[natural]] stains (such as rust on iron or a patina on bronze), and [[accidental]] stains (like spilling ketchup on your shirt). While the types of stains are very [[different]] in application, they all form in the same basic ways:
The primary [[method]] of stain formation is [[surface]] stains, where the staining substance is spilled out onto the surface or [[material]] and is trapped in the fibers, pores, indentations or other capillary structure of that surface.[1] The material that is trapped coats the underlying material, and the stain [[reflects]] back light according to its own [[color]]. Applying paint, spilled food, and wood stains are of this nature.
A secondary [[method]] of stain involves a [[chemical]] or [[molecular]] [[reaction]] between the material and the staining material. Many types of [[natural]] stains fall into this category. Finally, there can also be [[molecular]] [[attraction]] between the material and the staining material, involving being held in a covalent bond and showing the [[color]] of the bound substance.
Different types of material can be stained by different substances, and stain ''resistance'' is an important characteristic in [[modern]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textile_engineering textile engineering].
In many cases, stains can be affected by [[heat]] , and may become [[reactive]] enough to bond with the underlying material. [[Extreme]] heat, such as from ironing or dry cleaning, can cause a [[chemical]] [[reaction]] on an otherwise removable stain, turning it into a chemical compound that is impossible to remove.
Various laundry [[techniques]] exist to attempt to remove or minimize existing stains, and stain removers are an important type of [[chemical]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laundry_detergent laundry detergents]. Some stand-alone stain removers also exist.
[[Category: Chemistry]]
[[Category: General Reference]]
==Origin==
[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] ''steynen'', partly from Anglo-French ''desteindre'' to take away the [[color]] from & partly of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse ''steina'' to paint
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_century 14th Century]
==Definitions==
*1: to suffuse with [[color]]
*2: discolor, [[soil]]
*3a : taint 3 <a conscience stained with [[guilt]]>
:b : to bring discredit on <the scandal stained his reputation>
*4: to color (as wood, glass, or cloth) by [[processes]] affecting chemically or otherwise the [[material]] itself
==Description==
A '''stain''' is a discoloration that can be clearly distinguished from the [[surface]], [[material]], or [[medium]] it is found upon. Stains are caused by the [[chemical]] or [[physical]] [[interaction]] of two dissimilar materials. Stains are used [[intentionally]] in a variety of fields, including in [[research]] (biochemical staining), [[technology]] (metal staining), and art (wood staining, stained glass.)
There can be [[intentional]] stains (such as wood stains or paint), indicative stains (like [[food]] coloring or adding a substance to make [[bacteria]] visible under a microscope), [[natural]] stains (such as rust on iron or a patina on bronze), and [[accidental]] stains (like spilling ketchup on your shirt). While the types of stains are very [[different]] in application, they all form in the same basic ways:
The primary [[method]] of stain formation is [[surface]] stains, where the staining substance is spilled out onto the surface or [[material]] and is trapped in the fibers, pores, indentations or other capillary structure of that surface.[1] The material that is trapped coats the underlying material, and the stain [[reflects]] back light according to its own [[color]]. Applying paint, spilled food, and wood stains are of this nature.
A secondary [[method]] of stain involves a [[chemical]] or [[molecular]] [[reaction]] between the material and the staining material. Many types of [[natural]] stains fall into this category. Finally, there can also be [[molecular]] [[attraction]] between the material and the staining material, involving being held in a covalent bond and showing the [[color]] of the bound substance.
Different types of material can be stained by different substances, and stain ''resistance'' is an important characteristic in [[modern]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textile_engineering textile engineering].
In many cases, stains can be affected by [[heat]] , and may become [[reactive]] enough to bond with the underlying material. [[Extreme]] heat, such as from ironing or dry cleaning, can cause a [[chemical]] [[reaction]] on an otherwise removable stain, turning it into a chemical compound that is impossible to remove.
Various laundry [[techniques]] exist to attempt to remove or minimize existing stains, and stain removers are an important type of [[chemical]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laundry_detergent laundry detergents]. Some stand-alone stain removers also exist.
[[Category: Chemistry]]
[[Category: General Reference]]
