Photochemistry in Photography

Photochemical is caused by the chemical reaction of light. It’s initiated by the absorption of energy in the form of light. Photography is based on photochemical process. When a picture is taken, the silver salts in the photographic film absorb light and chemically change into metallic silver, which produces a dark image on the negative when the film is developed.

The chemical involved in photography is silver bromide (AgBr), thiosulfate and real ion. The photochemistry in photography works when the silver bromide, which has high sensitivity to light, in the film of the camera, absorbs the light when the picture is taken. When the picture is developed, the thiosulfate dissolved the silver bromide that had been exposed to light more easily than the one that had been kept in the dark.

thiosulfate

Silver bromide in photography