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What's the sodium carbonate doing in the bleach?

walbergb

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I'm into making my own bleach (potassium ferricyanide + potassium bromide) for indirect toning. I have seen recipes that include sodium carbonate (e.g., Photographers' Formulary recipe). What function does the sodium carbonate serve?
 

RattyMouse

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I'm into making my own bleach (potassium ferricyanide + potassium bromide) for indirect toning. I have seen recipes that include sodium carbonate (e.g., Photographers' Formulary recipe). What function does the sodium carbonate serve?

Just a guess here...pH buffer?
 

jm94

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That's what I thought too, a pH buffer.