In black and white photography, light-sensitive silver halide crystals, such as silver chloride, undergo decomposition when exposed to light, forming metallic silver particles that create the photographic image.
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In black and white photography, decomposition reactions, particularly photoreduction, are utilized in light-sensitive materials to capture and develop images. Silver halide crystals, often silver bromide or silver chloride, are embedded in photographic emulsions coated onto film or paper. When exposed to light during photography, these crystals undergo a photoreduction reaction. Photons from the light excite electrons in the silver halide crystals, causing them to release. The liberated electrons reduce silver ions to elemental silver, forming a latent image. In the subsequent development process, chemicals convert the exposed silver halide crystals into visible black metallic silver, creating the photographic image. Unexposed crystals remain unchanged, resulting in a negative image.