Chemical Shelf Life

[Jim Moore]

Hey Guys, I’m in the process of setting up my darkroom again and I would also like to do some alternative prints. Several years ago before I stopped and took down my darkroom I had just started learning the process and ordered a bunch of the chemicals needed.

I now have a cupboard in the basement with a shelf full of dry chemicals and I was wondering if it would be ok to still use these or should I just start with new?

Thanks!

Jim

 

[MattKing]

Jim:

It would be best to list them, along with observations about how they appear (colour, still powder or clumped, etc.). Then people can chime in.

 

[Jim Moore]

Thanks Matt. Posting from work so I'll get a list together tonight.

Thanks again,
Jim

 

[Jim Moore]

Ok here's the list:

Silver Nitrate 99.9% - Powder with some small clumps
Sodium Metaborate - Powder
Tartaric Acid - Powder
Benzotralzole - Powder
Sodium Sulfide - Flakes
Sodium Sulfite - Powder
Phenidone - Powder
Potassium Bromide - Crystals
Citric Acid - Powder
Borax - Clumped


And I also have a couple bottles of Amidol - Powder.

Thanks!!

Jim

 

[Photo Engineer]

Of them all, Sodium Sulfite is likely to turn into Sodium Sulfate if not stored tightly to keep O2 out. The others are probably good.

PE