A method of modifying a pigment, the method comprising: reacting a reactive compound having an X- n reactive group with a secondary compound N-S-ZM to form a substituted reactive intermediate a -X-(N-S-ZM) b; and reacting a pigment with the substituted reactive intermediate a -X-(N-S-ZM) b to attach the substituted reactive intermediate to the surface of the pigment to form a surface modified pigment; wherein X is a sulfonyl, phosphoryl, or 1,3,5-triazinyl group; Y is a halogen leaving group; N is a nucleophilic group; S is an organic group; ZM is an ionizable end group; n is an integer between 1 and 3; b is an integer between 1 and 3; and a = n − b; wherein n is equal to or greater than b; wherein if b is 2 or 3, each N-S-ZM can be the same or different; and wherein the secondary compound comprises at least one of amino benzoic acids, amino benzene sulfonic acids, amino phenols, amino sulfonic acids, polyethoxylated amino acids, sodium p-aminobenzoate, p-aminophenol, ethyl 4-aminobenzoate, tetramethylammonium 4-aminobenzoate, sodium 4-aminophenolate, taurine, oleic acid (amino), sodium aminooleate, organic polymeric substrates, linear polyethoxy polymeric amines, linear propoxy polymeric amines, a diamino aromatic, a polyethyleneimine, a polyguanidine, a quarternary ammonium compound, or a combination thereof. reacting a reactive compound having an X- n reactive group with a secondary compound N-S-ZM to form a substituted reactive intermediate a -X-(N-S-ZM) b; and reacting a pigment with the substituted reactive intermediate a -X-(N-S-ZM) b to attach the substituted reactive intermediate to the surface of the pigment to form a surface modified pigment; wherein X is a sulfonyl, phosphoryl, or 1,3,5-triazinyl group; Y is a halogen leaving group; N is a nucleophilic group; S is an organic group; ZM is an ionizable end group; n is an integer between 1 and 3; b is an integer between 1 and 3; and a = n − b; wherein n is equal to or greater than b; wherein if b is 2 or 3, each N-S-ZM can be the same or different; and wherein the secondary compound comprises at least one of amino benzoic acids, amino benzene sulfonic acids, amino phenols, amino sulfonic acids, polyethoxylated amino acids, sodium p-aminobenzoate, p-aminophenol, ethyl 4-aminobenzoate, tetramethylammonium 4-aminobenzoate, sodium 4-aminophenolate, taurine, oleic acid (amino), sodium aminooleate, organic polymeric substrates, linear polyethoxy polymeric amines, linear propoxy polymeric amines, a diamino aromatic, a polyethyleneimine, a polyguanidine, a quarternary ammonium compound, or a combination thereof. wherein n is equal to or greater than b; wherein if b is 2 or 3, each N-S-ZM can be the same or different; and wherein the secondary compound comprises at least one of amino benzoic acids, amino benzene sulfonic acids, amino phenols, amino sulfonic acids, polyethoxylated amino acids, sodium p-aminobenzoate, p-aminophenol, ethyl 4-aminobenzoate, tetramethylammonium 4-aminobenzoate, sodium 4-aminophenolate, taurine, oleic acid (amino), sodium aminooleate, organic polymeric substrates, linear polyethoxy polymeric amines, linear propoxy polymeric amines, a diamino aromatic, a polyethyleneimine, a polyguanidine, a quarternary ammonium compound, or a combination thereof.