Abstract: A recording liquid comprising an aqueous medium and carbon black having the following physical properties:1 DBP oil absorption: at least 140 ml/100 g2 Volatile matter: at most 4% by weight.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording liquid comprising a carbon black dispersed in an aqueous medium, which is characterized in that a toluene extract of the carbon black has an absorbance of 0.05 or less at .lambda.max within the range of from 330 nm to 340 nm or at 337.5 nm when the toluene extract does not have .lambda.max within the range of from 330 nm to 340 nm. The recording liquid can be used in ink-jet recording in high safety. During and after long storage of the recording liquid, the carbon black does not precipitate out. Using the recording liquid, reliable recording can be attained with good jettable durability of the liquid. Even when the recording liquid is recorded onto ordinary papers, high-quality images with good water-fastness and good light-fastness can be formed. The recording liquid is especially suitable for thermal ink-jet recording systems.

Abstract: Easily dispersible coloring carbon black obtained by compacting carbon black powder material to have a bulk density of from 0.10 to 0.50 g/cm.sup.3 and having an initial dispersion of at most 5.0%.

Abstract: High-quality coloring carbon black having a specific surface area (S.sub.BET), an area average diameter (D.sub.a) and a pore volume (AV.sub.Hg) which make both the roughness factor (RF) and aggregate factor (AF) as calculated by the following equations, negative values:RF=S.sub.BET -28710/(D.sub.a)+1450AF=AV.sub.Hg +14.times.(D.sub.a)-290where S.sub.BET is the specific surface area (m.sup.2 /g) of the carbon black as measured by a BET nitrogen absorption method, D.sub.a is the area average diameter (m.mu.m) of the carbon black as measured by an electron microscopic measuring method, and AV.sub.Hg is the pore volume (cc/100 g) of the carbon black as measured by a mercury porosimeter, provided D.sub.a is at most 17 m.mu.m.