The defining feature of an azo dye is the azo linkage connecting two aromatic fragments, typically aryl groups. This arrangement creates an extensive , which allows the molecule to absorb energy in the visible light spectrum (400–800 nm), resulting in intense, stable colors.
Azo dyes are a dominant class of synthetic organic colorants, characterized by the presence of one or more (
: An aromatic amine reacts with nitrous acid at low temperatures to form a diazonium salt .
The synthesis of these dyes usually involves a two-step process:
