Chemistry shelf life?

[nsurit]

I has come into some somewhat ancient chemistry. Any idea of the shelf live of unopened liguid chemistry such as Kodak fixer? How about dry chemistry? Bill Barber

 

[BetterSense]

what containers are the dry chemicals in?

I had some Kodak dektol that was in the paper-looking pouches and it was ruined. I guess the never foil-looking pouches are better.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

You could always just mix up a batch on a whimsical fancy and see what it does. And then share your knowledge with us. Without knowing storage conditions it would be impossible to venture an educated guess.

 

[Mike Wilde]

the fixer has likely 'sulphated' if it is a liquid concentrate - look for a layer of yellow sulphur smelling stuff in the bottom of the bottle when it is openned if it is not translucent and visible from the closed bottle/jug.

If the powders are mixed formula, then there is the possibility that the developer agents may have oxidized. Look for 'pepper' spots amongst the salt - most developer photo chems are white to light grey when fresh, and turn brown/black with age. If they are individual components of chemistry, ie carbonate, suplite, bromide, etc. then only the developer agents are at risk.

If some chemical was once anhydrous it may be by now mono or whatever else it naturally picks up water molecules as - it is still usable, you just need to account for the water that is coming along for the ride when you weight it out