The Seventh Renwick Memorial Lecture: Photographic Sensitivity and Chemical Sensitization of Emulsions

Abstract

A review of various methods of chemical sensitization of photographic emulsion grains and of the likely underlying mechanism is preceded by a discussion of the philosophy behind the various approaches to an understanding of the photographic process. The methods of sensitization are those by the gelatin, by sulphur (and more particularly by sulphide ions), by reduction, by mercury treatment and by gold compounds. Mitchell's model of sensitization is described and it is concluded that this is to be regarded more as a useful working hypothesis leading to fresh experimental work than as a completely settled and generally accepted mechanism.