Editing Iridescence (section)

{{Short description|Optical property}}
{{hatnote group|
{{distinguish|Iridescence (album)}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Iridescent|Iridescent (song)|Iridescent (album)}}
}}
{{use British English|date=February 2014}}
[[File:Soap Bubble - foliage background - iridescent colours - Traquair 040801.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Iridescence in [[soap bubble]]s]]

'''Iridescence''' (also known as '''goniochromism''') is the phenomenon of certain surfaces that appear [[Gradient|gradually]] to change [[colour]] as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Iridescence is caused by [[wave interference]] of light in [[microstructure]]s or [[thin-film interference|thin films]]. Examples of iridescence include [[soap bubble]]s, [[feather]]s, [[butterfly]] wings and seashell [[nacre]], and minerals such as [[opal]]. '''[[Iridescence#Pearlescence|Pearlescence]]''' is a related effect where some or most of the reflected light is white. The term pearlescent is used to describe certain paint finishes, usually in the automotive industry, which actually produce iridescent effects.