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chemicals used in photo development


mae_velasco

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Let's assume you mean normal black and white photography.

The photographic emulsion consists of a component called

silverhalides. These silverhalides (halides are the common name for

bromides, iodides, chlorides, fluorides) are sensitive to light.

When making a picture, light sensitives the silverhalide.

The first chemical needed to develop the print is obviously the

developer. This developer is mostly a very complex chemical (e.g

hydroquinone=1,4-dihydroxybenzene;), because it can change (read

develop) ONLY the sensitivised silverhalide. The developer changes

thus the sentised silverhalide into metallic silver. This process

forms the image.

The next step is ending the action of the developer. All developers

are alkali, so an acid is used to stop the development (hence stop

bath)Mostly an organic acid as citric acid

(2-Hydroxy-1,2,3,-propanetncarboxylic acid)is used in dilution to do

the job.

The last bath is the fixing bath. This bath reacts with the remaining

(not developed) silverhalide in the emulsion of the print, in order

to remove that silverhalide. The final result is that only the

metallic silver remains in the picture. The chemical compount to do

this is called a fixer, nowadays mostly AMMONIUM THIOSULFATE.

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