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Acknowledgement
| would like to extend my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to our
principal, Mrs. Molly D'Coutho for giving us the opportunity to
make this report and letting us use the laboratory chemicals
which were very necessary in the completion of this project.
lam also thankful to Mrs. Latha Manickam, our dear chemistry
teacher who has been a great helper, friend and advisor in this
endeavour without whose cooperation, guidance and
encouragement, this project would not be possible.
| wish to acknowledge my heartfelt thanks to her for her
constant supervision over the project and for providing all the
necessary information and details regarding the project.
Last but not least, I'm very thankful for the support extended
my friends during the making of this project; their wisdom
and ideas were of a great help to me.Introduction
Brief Explanation
History
Positive/Negative Effects
Theory
Photographic Film and Paper
Developers
Experiment
Aim
Procedure:
Determining the Optimum Conditions
Preparing your own Developer
Toning
Results
Conclusion
Precautions
BibliographyINTRODUCTION
Brief Explanation:-
Traditional black and white photography utilized a
chemical process that has been observed since ancient times
that of the photo-sensitivity of silver (Az) compounds. This
ability was harnessed by the 19th century photography
pioneers by coating silver halides (molecules of Ag and halide
gases) in an emulsion of gelatine onto a glass or plastic backer.
The process of making traditional film has not changed much
from the basic chemical reactions discovered in the 1800's.
Initially, elemental silver is reacted with nitric acid
to form silver nitrate. Complete and balance the reaction
below:
Ag (s) + HNO3 > AgNOS + H2
The silver nitrate is then converted to the silver halide
(usually bromide) by fuming the film with potassium bromide.
Complete and balance the next reaction:
AgNO, + KBr AgBr+KNO3,
Note: Silver bromide (AgBr) is insoluble in water and
forms a precipitate, which is crucial in the formation
of photographic film.
‘The AgBr is an ionic compound, so the film now =
is ready for exposure and the creating of the intended
image. Stored within a light sealed container, the AgBr
film is a uniform darkish yellow. The light exposure
‘occurs when an opening allows light to enter the
dark container and strike the film. These “storage” containersthat subsequently allow light exposure are more commonly
referred to as cameras.
History:-
The history of black and white photography is closely
tied to chemical advancements. Originating in the early 19th
century, pioneers like Joseph Nicéphore Niépce and Louis
Daguerre experimented with light-
sensitive materials. Silver halides,
compounds of silver and halogens,
played a crucial role as they darkened
when exposed to light, forming the
basis for early photographic processes
like the Daguerreatype. Advancements
in wet-plate collodion photography
improved image quality, but the breakthrough came with dry-
plate emulsions, enabling portable cameras and longer
exposures. The chemistry of development also progressed,
with hydroquinone and metol identified as powerful reducing
agents. The history of black and white photography showcases
the fusion of art and science through exploration and
experimentation with chemical reactions.
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Positive/Negative Effects:-‘The intersection of chemistry and black and white
photography has yielded both remarkable achievements and
environmental concerns. On the positive side, the
understanding and manipulation of chemical
processes has led to significant advancements in
photographic technology. The develapment of light-
sensitive silver halides, for instance, formed the bedrock
of early photography. Subsequent innovations in
developing agents, fixers, and toners have refined the art of
capturing and preserving images. Chemistry has also
contributed to the creation of specialized films for diverse
photographic applications, from high-contrast portraits to
landscape photography.
However, the photographic process also has its
drawbacks. The use of hazardous chemicals,
particularly in the darkroom environment, poses risks
to human health and the environment
Silver nitrate, for example, is toxic. Improper
disposal of photographic waste can contaminate
waste.
In conclusion, while chemistry has been
instrumental in the development of black and white
photography, it is essential to balance the benefits with the
environmental costs. Sustainable practices and responsible
disposal of chemicals are crucial to mitigate the negative
impacts and ensure the long-term viability of this art formTHEORY
Photographic Film and Paper:-
Photographic paper and film consist of a gelatine
emulsion with silver halides grains layers onto either paper or
film base. The halides that are often used
are chlorine, bromine and iodine, although
bromine is most common. The silver halide
grains are crystalline structures of silver
ions and halide ions in a lattice structure
Even though the grains are held together
by chemical bonds and are very stable, there is some
movement allowed of atoms and electrons throughout the
structure.
Electronically, there are different energy levels in the
grain: the valance band and conduction band. Electrons in the
valence band are localised around the atam to which they
belong. Those in the conduction band are localised around the
atom to which they belong. Those in the conduction band are
free to move through the grain. When photons from light
come through the grain. When photons from light come into
contact with a grain, an electron is ejected from
the valence band of the halide into the conducting {ly
band of the crystal. This electron will then
combine with a moving silver ion forming atomic
silver. The place where thus occurs is the latent image centre.
When three or four of these events occur at the same
location, an aggregate or clump of silver metal is produced
Three or four atoms are necessary for the latent image centreto be. Each grain has thousands of silver ions, so there are
thousands of chances for this to happen.
The latent image is invisible to the eye, but after further
development, the atomic silver will create dark areas due to its
colour. The latent centre serves as a catalyst for the
development in the dark room. The formation of silver metal
is logarithmically proportional to the intensity of light.
Therefore places where more light hits appear darker on the
film. In creating the print, light shown through the negative, so
areas that were originally dark then receive less light and
appears brighter
Developers:-
The developer consists typically of one or
more developing agents, a preservative (such as
sodium sulphite) to prevent oxidation by the air,
an alkali (such as sodium carbonate) te activate
the developers and a restrainer to ensure that the developer
acts only on exposed silver halide crystals. A developer's main
characteristics are activity, development speed and effect of
film gradation, grain less and sharpness. Developers may be
prepared on the basis of published formulas or brought as
ready-mixed powders or concentrates for dilution with water.
The developer is allowed to act for a specific time to
build up the image to the required density and contrast. This
depends on the developer, the temperature, the degree of
agitation and the film-as indicated by recommendations from
film and developer manufacturersEXPERIMENT
Aim:
The primary aim of a chemistry experimentin black and
white photography is to understand the underlying chemical
processes involved in creating a photograp!
More specifically, it seeks to:
+ Explore the role of different chemicals in the
development, fixing, and toning processes.
+ Investigate the impact of various factors such as
temperature, time, and concentration on the final
image.
+ Understand the relationship between light, silver
halides, and the formation of the latent image.
+ Develop a deeper appreciation for the art and science
of photography.
Procedure:-
In the first section of this experiment you will determine
a set of optimum conditions for developing a contact print
using a light bulb for exposure and a standard, already-
prepared developer. Two factors are important in determining
the optimum conditions. The first is the amount of light hitting
the photographic paper. This depends on the intensity of the
light, the length of the exposure and the distance of the light
from the paper. The greater the amount of light hitting the