Silver Bromide

Silver bromide is a chemical compound with the formula AgBr. It is a light-sensitive, pale-yellow solid that is insoluble in water but soluble in solutions of alkali halides and thiosulfates.

Silver bromide is commonly used in photographic emulsions as it is sensitive to light and forms the basis of the silver halide crystals that make up the emulsion. When exposed to light, the silver bromide undergoes a reaction that results in the formation of metallic silver, which is then developed to produce the image.

Due to its low solubility in water, silver bromide is also used in the production of high-quality optical lenses and prisms, as well as in the manufacture of silver salts used in medicinal and photographic applications.

While silver bromide is relatively stable, exposure to light or heat can cause it to decompose, releasing bromine gas. This process can be accelerated in the presence of certain impurities or by exposure to radiation, which can lead to the degradation of photographic images over time.