|
Silver nitrate is a chemical compound with
chemical formula AgNO3. This
nitrate of silver is a light-sensitive
ingredient in photographic film. A poisonous, corrosive compound,
silver nitrate crystals can be produced by dissolving silver in nitric acid and evaporating the solution.
When making photographic film, fine silver nitrate particles
are bonded to strips of tri-acetate or polyester. Photons from sunlight, X-rays or other sources, initiate a purported chemical chain reaction: when photons strike silver nitrate molecules,
they free electrons from the silver ions. These free electrons roam through the crystal and
settle in structural imperfections called sensitivity specks. These specks apparently attract positive silver ions, which are then neutralized to
form groups of stable silver atoms, creating a latent image that is chemically developed to reveal a photographic image.
Silver nitrate has been used as an antiseptic, dropped into new born babies' eyes
at birth. This is to prevent contraction of gonorrhoea or chlamydia from their mother. A very weak solution is used for this, (about 1%) and there
are very few side effects.
See also
External Link
|