Appendix 2Chemicals
“Photography, in the final analysis, can be reduced to a few simple principles. But, unlike most arts, it seems complex at the initial approach.”
—Ansel Adams, 1948
Most of the chemicals used in the darkroom are safe and biodegradable. For example, the most common darkroom chemical, sodium sulfite, is a high grade of salt used as a food preservative and antioxidant. Borax is often used in laundry detergent, though it is toxic to plants, as are most laundry detergents. Sodium carbonate is used as a food additive for anticaking and acidity regulation.
Perhaps the most environmentally hazardous chemical commonly used is hydroquinone (HQ), found in many film and paper developers. HQ is anaerobic, that is, it absorbs oxygen ...
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