Experiment: THE EFFECT OF LIGHT

ON SILVER HALIDES
QUESTIONS
1

Which of the filter papers were affected by exposure?

Silver Chloride (AgCl) and Silver Bromide (AgBr) were the most
affected.
2

Why was the design left on the filter paper?

The design will form where the light was able to decompose the
silver ion into silver atoms.
3

Write a list of compounds in order from least affected to most affected.

AgI is the least sensitive and used in X-ray radiography; AgBr is

moderately sensitive, used in most standard photographic films;
AgCl is the most sensitive forming a black solid
4

Write equations for the reactions which occurred.

2Ag+ + 2Br 2Ag(s) + Br2 (g)

2Ag+ + 2I 2Ag(s) + I2 (g)
5

Why was the filter paper washed with the sodium thiosulfate solution? Write an equation for
3
this reaction. (The product is Ag(S2O3)2 .)

After development, the film is "fixed," during which the remaining silver ions
are removed to prevent further decomposition. The agent used is sodium
thiosulphate, and reactions according to the following equation:
AgBr (s) + 2 Na2S2O3(aq) Na3[Ag(S2O3)2](aq) + NaBr (aq)

With spectator ions removed: 2Ag+ + (S2O3)

Ag(S2O3)2

Why are silver compounds stored in dark bottles?

It is photosensitive, reacts with light to form a precipitate of

silver.
7

Suggest one use that could be made of these reactions.

To develop photos