Help Making NaBr or KBr?

absolutely right!
mine exactly says 2.5% KI & 2.5% I in isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, and putrified water.

Would putting it in a developer that contained KOH or NaOH work on the elemental Iodine, or even in the boondocks Tincture of Iodine is useless or worse?

Tincture of Iodine is an excellent disinfectant, but not good in a developer AFAIK.

The Iodates formed from Iodine and the Iodine itself could play havoc with an emulsion. But then, try it, the result might be interesting.

PE

An iodate - or a bromate for that matter - should easily be reduced to iodide or bromide by any available reducing agent.

Of course, photochemistry, developers in particular, are dependant on redox reactions and reducing agents. Having excess iodine or bromine in the halide emulsion will oxidise all the reducing agent you're using as your developer when you put the emulsion in the developer after exposure.

So, if you've got a little iodate in your iodide solution, or bromate, it might be workable - but you would have to increase the concentration of the developers / reducing agents, so there's enough to react.

Does that all sound plausible?
What do you all think?

You have to include the Sulfite among the reducing agents, and you have to include any pH change induced by the REDOX reaction. The pH change may be tiny but in poorly buffered developers it might be significant.

You did express my point though, but I just didn't feel like going into detail.

Thanks.

PE

I would not want to intentionally introduce any oxidizing agents into a developer, which is why I think home-brew solutions to turn elemental bromine or iodine into Br- or I- are a bad idea. Might as well add chlorine bleach to your developer!

Jordan said:

I would not want to intentionally introduce any oxidizing agents into a developer, which is why I think home-brew solutions to turn elemental bromine or iodine into Br- or I- are a bad idea. Might as well add chlorine bleach to your developer!

Click to expand...

Um. Like sodium chloride? Surely chlorine bleach is a bit left field?
Murray

Just trying to make the point that elemental bromine and iodine are oxidizing agents, even when they are "dissolved" in water. Chlorine bleach is made by dissolving chlorine gas in dilute alkaline solution, IIRC. This is a stronger oxidizing agent than what you get from Br or I, but the principle is the same...

You might be able to get what you want from Goldstreet Studios in Trentham in Victoria. She does a lot of alternative work and they regularly have international photographic practioners (like Mike Ware) teaching alternative techniques. Just google Goldstreet Studios and then go to their shop section. If you can't find what you're after, contact Ellie Mae to see if she can get it for you.
Mike